Ontogeny of Behaviour

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Ontogeny of Behaviour Development and Learning
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Ontogeny of Behaviour
Innate behaviour pattern
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Ontogeny of Behaviour
Genome information
encodes
CNS
Learning
CNS
contains
IRM
IRM
FAP or MAP
Maturation
FAP or MAP
MATURE
IMMATURE
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Learning
Definition - all processes that lead to
adaptive changes in individual behaviour as a
result of experience under a particular set of
environmental conditions
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Learning
Sensitive phases - black guillemot
nest
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Learning
Constraints - gulls and kittiwakes
Gulls
Kittiwake

• cliff nesting
• young never wander
• Parents dont learn to
• recognize their own young - just nest site

• ground nesting
• young wander
• Parents learn to
• recognize their own young

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Learning Processes
1. Habituation
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Learning Processes
2. Classical (Pavlovian) Conditioning
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Learning Processes
2. Classical (Pavlovian) Conditioning
Probability of response
UCS CS trials
CS alone
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Learning Processes
2. Classical Conditioning
-example from nature - bluejay and monarch
butterfly
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Learning Processes
3. Instrumental Conditioning
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Learning Processes
4. Imitational (Observational) Learning
Facial Expressions
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Learning Processes
5. Insight (Cognitive) Learning
(images from Kohler, 1899)
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Learning Processes
6. Imprinting
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Learning Processes
6. Imprinting

• Object imprinting
• Parental (filial) imprinting
• Sexual imprinting
• Motoric imprinting
• Habitat imprinting

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Learning Processes

• Object imprinting
• Parental (filial) imprinting
• Sexual imprinting
• Motoric imprinting
• Habitat imprinting

6. Imprinting
IRM (very rough)
Stimulus
Imprint on object
IRM - for geese - movement and minimum/maximum
size - for mallards - movement and rhythmic calls
For a movie (Quicktime) of a duckling being
imprinted on a milk bottle go to http//seab.envm
ed.rochester.edu/jeab/jeab_movies/09/Hoffman-9-177
a.mov
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Learning Processes

• Object imprinting
• Parental (filial) imprinting
• Sexual imprinting
• Motoric imprinting
• Habitat imprinting

6. Imprinting
IRM - characteristics of sexual partner In males
- very rough IRM In females - much more developed
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Learning Processes

• Object imprinting
• Parental (filial) imprinting
• Sexual imprinting
• Motoric imprinting
• Habitat imprinting

6. Imprinting
Immelman - imprinting in finches
Society Finch
Zebra Finch
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Learning Processes

• Object imprinting
• Parental (filial) imprinting
• Sexual imprinting
• Motoric imprinting
• Habitat imprinting

6. Imprinting
Immelman - imprinting in finches
Zebra finch raised with society finch
Remove at 33 to 66 days
Isolated until sexually mature (4 months)
Tested males
Tested females
Attack or ignore zebra finch females
Respond to zebra finch courtship
Dont respond to society finch courtship
Court society finch females
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Learning Processes

• Object imprinting
• Parental (filial) imprinting
• Sexual imprinting
• Motoric imprinting
• Habitat imprinting

6. Imprinting

• Major characteristics of object imprinting
• Innately controlled temporal motor pattern

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Learning Processes

• Object imprinting
• Parental (filial) imprinting
• Sexual imprinting
• Motoric imprinting
• Habitat imprinting

6. Imprinting

• Major characteristics of object imprinting
• Innately controlled temporal motor pattern
• Takes place during early sensitive phase

For parental imprinting
For sexual imprinting
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0
Time - days
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Learning Processes

• Object imprinting
• Parental (filial) imprinting
• Sexual imprinting
• Motoric imprinting
• Habitat imprinting

6. Imprinting

• Major characteristics of object imprinting
• Innately controlled temporal motor pattern
• Takes place during early sensitive phase
• Relatively irreversible

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Learning Processes

• Object imprinting
• Parental (filial) imprinting
• Sexual imprinting
• Motoric imprinting
• Habitat imprinting

6. Imprinting

• Major characteristics of object imprinting
• Innately controlled temporal motor pattern
• Takes place during early sensitive phase
• Relatively irreversible
• Time lag in expression of sexual imprinting
  period

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Learning Processes

• Object imprinting
• Parental (filial) imprinting
• Sexual imprinting
• Motoric imprinting
• Habitat imprinting

6. Imprinting
Motoric imprinting -formation of a memory
template - needs to be perfected
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Learning Processes

• Object imprinting
• Parental (filial) imprinting
• Sexual imprinting
• Motoric imprinting
• Habitat imprinting

6. Imprinting
Motoric imprinting - sensitive phase
Song sparrow
White crowned sparrow
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Learning Processes

• Object imprinting
• Parental (filial) imprinting
• Sexual imprinting
• Motoric imprinting
• Habitat imprinting

6. Imprinting
Crude template (innate)
Own species song heard
Template matched to song heard
Template is perfected
Testosterone
Final song is perfected
Song output
Compare to template
Hear own song
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Learning Processes

• Object imprinting
• Parental (filial) imprinting
• Sexual imprinting
• Motoric imprinting
• Habitat imprinting

6. Imprinting
Crude template (innate)
Own species song heard
Memorization phase
Template matched to song heard
Template is perfected
Testosterone
Final song is perfected
Song output
Compare to template
Hear own song
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Learning Processes

• Object imprinting
• Parental (filial) imprinting
• Sexual imprinting
• Motoric imprinting
• Habitat imprinting

6. Imprinting
Crude template (innate)
Own species song heard
Memorization Phase
Template matched to song heard
Template is perfected
Testosterone
Final song is perfected
Song output
Compare to template
Hear own song
Motor Phase
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Learning Processes

• Object imprinting
• Parental (filial) imprinting
• Sexual imprinting
• Motoric imprinting
• Habitat imprinting

6. Imprinting
Habitat imprinting
Migrating salmon learn characteristics of natal
stream
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Learning Processes
Other systems associated with learning

• Behavioural/cultural tradition
• a. Acquired within a group
• b. Transferred between generation by non-genetic
  means

Japanese macaque washing food
Blue titmouse opening milk bottle
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Learning Processes
Other systems associated with learning
2) Behavioural/cultural tradition a. Acquired
within a group b. Transferred between generation
by non-genetic means
Tool use