Ontogeny of Behaviour Development and Learning. Ontogeny of Behaviour Innate behaviour pattern.

Ontogeny of Behaviour

Development and Learning

Ontogeny of Behaviour

Innate behaviour pattern

Ontogeny of Behaviour

Genome information

CNS

IRM

FAPor

MAP

encodes

contains

IMMATURE

Learning

Maturation

CNS

IRM

FAPor

MAP

MATURE

Learning

Definition:- all processes that lead to adaptive changes in

individual behaviour as a result of experience under a particular set of environmental conditions

Learning

Sensitive phases - black guillemot

nest

Learning

Constraints - gulls and kittiwakes

Gulls

-ground nesting-young wander

-Parents learn to recognize their own young

-cliff nesting-young never wander

-Parents don’t learn to recognize their own young - just nest site

Kittiwake

Learning Processes

1. Habituation

Learning Processes

2. Classical (Pavlovian) Conditioning

Learning Processes

2. Classical (Pavlovian) Conditioning

UCS + CS trials CS alone

Probability of response

Learning Processes

2. Classical Conditioning

-example from nature - bluejay and monarch butterfly

Learning Processes

3. Instrumental Conditioning

Learning Processes

4. Imitational (Observational) Learning

Facial Expressions

Learning Processes

5. Insight (Cognitive) Learning

(images from Kohler, 1899)

Learning Processes

6. Imprinting

Learning Processes

6. Imprinting

a. Object imprintingi. Parental (filial) imprintingii. Sexual imprinting

b. Motoric imprinting

c. Habitat imprinting

Learning Processes

6. Imprinting

a. Object imprintingi. Parental (filial) imprintingii. Sexual imprinting

b. Motoric imprinting

c. Habitat imprinting

For a movie (Quicktime) of a duckling being imprinted on a milk bottle go to:http://seab.envmed.rochester.edu/jeab/jeab_movies/09/Hoffman-9-177a.mov

Stimulus IRM(very rough)

Imprint onobject

IRM - for geese - movement and minimum/maximum size- for mallards - movement and rhythmic calls

Learning Processes

6. Imprinting

a. Object imprintingi. Parental (filial) imprintingii. Sexual imprinting

b. Motoric imprinting

c. Habitat imprinting

IRM - characteristics of sexual partner

In males - very rough IRMIn females - much more developed

Learning Processes

6. Imprinting

a. Object imprintingi. Parental (filial) imprintingii. Sexual imprinting

b. Motoric imprinting

c. Habitat imprinting

Immelman - imprinting in finches

Society Finch Zebra Finch

Learning Processes

6. Imprinting

a. Object imprintingi. Parental (filial) imprintingii. Sexual imprinting

b. Motoric imprinting

c. Habitat imprintingImmelman - imprinting in finches

Zebra finch raised with society finch

Remove at 33 to 66 days

Isolated until sexually mature (4 months)

Tested malesTested females

Court society finch females

Attack or ignore zebra finch females

Respond to zebra finch courtship

Don’t respond to society finch courtship

Learning Processes

6. Imprinting

a. Object imprintingi. Parental (filial) imprintingii. Sexual imprinting

b. Motoric imprinting

c. Habitat imprinting

Major characteristics of object imprinting

1. Innately controlled temporal motor pattern

Learning Processes

6. Imprinting

a. Object imprintingi. Parental (filial) imprintingii. Sexual imprinting

b. Motoric imprinting

c. Habitat imprinting

Major characteristics of object imprinting

1. Innately controlled temporal motor pattern2. Takes place during early sensitive phase

For parental imprinting For sexual imprinting

Time - days 300

Learning Processes

6. Imprinting

a. Object imprintingi. Parental (filial) imprintingii. Sexual imprinting

b. Motoric imprinting

c. Habitat imprinting

Major characteristics of object imprinting

1. Innately controlled temporal motor pattern2. Takes place during early sensitive phase3. Relatively irreversible

Learning Processes

6. Imprinting

a. Object imprintingi. Parental (filial) imprintingii. Sexual imprinting

b. Motoric imprinting

c. Habitat imprinting

Major characteristics of object imprinting

1. Innately controlled temporal motor pattern2. Takes place during early sensitive phase3. Relatively irreversible4. Time lag in expression of sexual imprinting period

Learning Processes6. Imprinting

a. Object imprintingi. Parental (filial) imprintingii. Sexual imprinting

b. Motoric imprinting

c. Habitat imprintingMotoric imprinting-formation of a memory template - needs to be perfected

Learning Processes6. Imprinting

a. Object imprintingi. Parental (filial) imprintingii. Sexual imprinting

b. Motoric imprinting

c. Habitat imprintingMotoric imprinting - sensitive phase

Song sparrow

White crowned sparrow

Learning Processes6. Imprinting

a. Object imprintingi. Parental (filial) imprintingii. Sexual imprinting

b. Motoric imprinting

c. Habitat imprintingCrude template (innate)

Own species song heard

Template matched to song heard

Template is perfected

Final song is perfectedTestosterone

Song output

Hear own song Compare to template

Learning Processes6. Imprinting

a. Object imprintingi. Parental (filial) imprintingii. Sexual imprinting

b. Motoric imprinting

c. Habitat imprintingCrude template (innate)

Own species song heard

Template matched to song heard

Template is perfected

Final song is perfectedTestosterone

Song output

Hear own song Compare to template

Memorization phase

Learning Processes6. Imprinting

a. Object imprintingi. Parental (filial) imprintingii. Sexual imprinting

b. Motoric imprinting

c. Habitat imprintingCrude template (innate)

Own species song heard

Template matched to song heard

Template is perfected

Final song is perfectedTestosterone

Song output

Hear own song Compare to template

Memorization Phase

Motor Phase

Learning Processes6. Imprinting

a. Object imprintingi. Parental (filial) imprintingii. Sexual imprinting

b. Motoric imprinting

c. Habitat imprinting

Habitat imprinting

Migrating salmonlearn characteristics of natal stream

Learning Processes

Other systems associated with learning

1) Behavioural/cultural traditiona. Acquired within a groupb. Transferred between generation by non-genetic means

Japanese macaque washing food Blue titmouse opening milk bottle

Learning Processes

Other systems associated with learning

2) Behavioural/cultural traditiona. Acquired within a groupb. Transferred between generation by non-genetic means

Tool use