IB 429: Animal Behavior

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IB 429 Animal Behavior Physiology of
Behavior Prof. Fred Delcomyn
Office 422A Morrill Hall Phone [phone] e-mail
delcomyn_at_life.uiuc.edu
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Behavior is a set of muscle contractions in a
particular pattern and sequence.
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To understand the physiological basis of
behavior, ask
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To understand the physiological basis of
behavior, ask
How is a nervous system able to generate a
pattern of impulses targeted to the appropriate
muscles at the appropriate time?
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Basic concepts
Behavior is determined in part by the amount of
tissue in the nervous system and how it is
assembled (its structure).
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Basic concepts
Behavior is determined in part by the amount of
tissue in the nervous system and how it is
assembled (its structure).
It is also determined by how the neural
tissue works (its function).
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Lecture Outline
I. Physiology of Sensory Systems
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Lecture Outline
I. Physiology of Sensory Systems Question How
are sensory systems organized to allow animals to
adapt to and respond to their environments?
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Lecture Outline
I. Physiology of Sensory Systems Question How
are sensory systems organized to allow animals to
adapt to and respond to their environments?
II. Neural Basis of Behavior
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Lecture Outline
I. Physiology of Sensory Systems Question How
are sensory systems organized to allow animals to
adapt to and respond to their environments?
II. Neural Basis of Behavior Question How does
an animals nervous system orchestrate its
behavior?
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I. Physiology of Sensory Systems Question How
are sensory systems organized to allow animals to
adapt to and respond to their environments?
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Sensory Systems
1. All neurons have some sensitivity to
environmental stimuli.
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Sensory Systems
1. All neurons have some sensitivity to
environmental stimuli.
2. Sense organs are specialized to respond to
particular stimuli.
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Photoreception detecting light (vision)
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Photoreception detecting light (vision)
Chemoreception detecting chemicals (smell
taste)
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Photoreception detecting light (vision)
Chemoreception detecting chemicals (smell
taste)
Mechanoreception detecting physical touch or
movement
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Sensory Systems
1. All neurons have some sensitivity to
environmental stimuli.
2. Sense organs are specialized to respond to
various stimuli.
3. Sense organs filter stimuli.
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Key concepts in sensory system function
1. Stimulus processing Sensory systems report
relevant information, not all information.
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Key concepts in sensory system function
1. Stimulus processing Sensory systems report
relevant information, not all information.
2. Tuning Sensory receptors are tuned to
biologically relevant stimuli.
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Key concepts in sensory system function
1. Stimulus processing Sensory systems report
relevant information, not all information.
2. Tuning Sensory receptors are tuned to
biologically relevant stimuli.
3. Topographic organization Sensory regions of
brains are topographically organized.
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Example of a mechanoreceptive system
Auditory system (hearing)
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Example of a simple auditory system
Moth ear
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Example of a complex auditory system
Bat ear
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Bat echolocation
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Topographic mapping
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Question How are sensory systems organized to
allow animals to adapt to and respond to their
environments?
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Question How are sensory systems organized to
allow animals to adapt to and respond to their
environments?
1. Functionally, they take advantage of natural
neural sensitivity to environmental stimuli to
detect behaviorally relevant information.
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Question How are sensory systems organized to
allow animals to adapt to and respond to their
environments?
1. Functionally, they take advantage of natural
neural sensitivity to environmental stimuli to
detect behaviorally relevant information.
2. Structurally, they are organized to build a
sophisticated view of an animals surroundings.