Neurones in the brain ~ networks & connections

2. Neurones in the brain~ networks & connections

3. The synapse

4. Memory & Learning ~ new connections form, connections are strengthened

5. Forgetting is an important part of memory & learning

7. Innate behaviour

8. The grasp reflex ~ innate behaviour

9. Reflex ~ Survival responses

10. Simple reflexes & survival The knee jerk reflex involves only two neurones –the sensory neurone controls the motor neurone directly This is a ‘mono synaptic reflex arc’

11. Reflex arc diagram from OUP

12. Habituation ~ learned behaviour • If an animal is exposed to: • a repeated stimulus • Neither beneficial or harmful (neutral) • By ignoring non-threatening stimuli, young animals ‘learn’ to pay attention to danger • Helps survival, don’t waste energy

13. Imprinting ~ innate & learned behaviour Imprinting is when animal ‘learns’ to recognise parents instinctively (innate behaviour) Occurs in species where young can move as soon as they are born (why?) Instinct to follow moving object (usually the parent) ~ provides food, shelter etc - to help them survive No innate instinct of what parent will look like – so biologists can exploit this for research purposes

14. Microlight pilot Christian Moullec went to extraordinary lengths in order to film birds in flight from up close. He hand-reared a brood of Barnacle Geese who now see him as their mother and follow him in flight. Imprinting = animal learns to recognise its parent (mixture of innate & learned behaviour)

15. Konrad Lorenz (1935)~ the father of ethology Innate behaviour in geese - imprinting

16. Nikolaas Tinbergen (1950) ~ innate behaviour in herring gulls

17. Dian Fossey~ studiedmountain gorillas 1967 - 1985 Fossey made discoveries about gorillas including how females transfer from group to group over the decades, gorilla vocalization, hierarchies and social relationships among groups, rare infanticide, gorilla diet, and how gorillas recycle nutrients.

18. Dame Jane Goodall~ a British primatologist & ethologist Six mark Question: Dis cuss the contribution of Jane Goodall and Diane Fossey to animal behaviour research & conservation.

19. Social Behaviour in apeschimps, gorillas & orang-utans • Apes live in groups & so exhibit social behaviour • Cooperation to find food • Protect each other from attacks • Rank – alpha male in every group (dominant) – prevents fights within the group (wastes energy) • Grooming – reinforces social bonds within the group, reinforces rank, demonstrates affection, keeps fur clean • Social behaviour increases survival

20. Conditioning

21. Classical conditioning Ivan Pavlov ~ 1846-1936 Animal learns (passively) to associate a neutral stimulus with another more important one (dog, bell, food) Response is automatic, and reinforced by repetition

22. Pavlov’s Experiment

23. Operant conditioning~ Skinner box • Animal learns actively to associate an action/behaviour with a reward/punishment • Trial & error learning • Animal actively tries to work something out

24. Animal Training Usually involves operant conditioning: • Reward (treat/praise) or punishment (verbal/whip) for behaviour • animal learns to perform certain behaviour for a reward • Guide dogs learn to stop at roadside • Police dogs & drugs • Police horses trained to ignore sounds • Dolphin – fish & whistle is a combination of both operant and classical conditioning

25. Social behaviour & communication Communication benefits the group & improves survival • Keep group together (elephants infrasound) • Warning about predator • Communicate (submission or aggression) • Young communicate needs eg hunger • Communicate to coordinate an attack (pack hunting)

26. How do animals communicate? • Sound • Chemicals • Visual signals