Ontogeny of Behaviour
Development and Learning
Ontogeny of Behaviour
Innate behaviour pattern
Ontogeny of Behaviour
Genome information
encodes
CNS
Learning
CNS
contains
IRM
FAP
or
MAP
IMMATURE
IRM
Maturation
FAP
or
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
Kittiwake
-ground nesting
-young wander
-cliff nesting
-young never wander
-Parents learn to
recognize their own
young
-Parents don’t learn to
recognize their own
young - just nest site
Learning Processes
1. Habituation
Learning Processes
2. Classical (Pavlovian) Conditioning
Learning Processes
2. Classical (Pavlovian) Conditioning
Probability of
response
UCS + CS trials
CS alone
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 imprinting
i. Parental (filial) imprinting
ii. Sexual imprinting
b. Motoric imprinting
c. Habitat imprinting
Learning Processes
6. Imprinting
Stimulus
IRM
IRM
(very rough)
a.
Object imprinting
i.
Parental (filial) imprinting
ii.
Sexual imprinting
b.
Motoric imprinting
c.
Habitat imprinting
Imprint on
object
- 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.envmed.rochester.edu/jeab/jeab_movies/09/Hoffman-9-177a.mov
Learning Processes
6. Imprinting
a.
Object imprinting
i.
Parental (filial) imprinting
ii.
Sexual imprinting
b.
Motoric imprinting
c.
Habitat imprinting
IRM - characteristics of sexual partner
In males - very rough IRM
In females - much more developed
Learning Processes
6. Imprinting
a.
Object imprinting
i.
Parental (filial) imprinting
ii.
Sexual imprinting
b.
Motoric imprinting
c.
Habitat imprinting
Immelman - imprinting in finches
Society Finch
Zebra Finch
Learning Processes
6. Imprinting
Immelman - imprinting in finches
a.
Object imprinting
i.
Parental (filial) imprinting
ii.
Sexual imprinting
b.
Motoric imprinting
c.
Habitat imprinting
Zebra finch raised with society finch
Remove at 33 to 66 days
Isolated until sexually mature (4 months)
Tested males
Court society
finch females
Attack or
ignore zebra
finch females
Tested females
Don’t respond
to society finch
courtship
Respond to
zebra finch
courtship
Learning Processes
6. Imprinting
Major characteristics of object imprinting
1.
Innately controlled temporal motor pattern
a.
Object imprinting
i.
Parental (filial) imprinting
ii.
Sexual imprinting
b.
Motoric imprinting
c.
Habitat imprinting
Learning Processes
6. Imprinting
a.
Object imprinting
i.
Parental (filial) imprinting
ii.
Sexual imprinting
b.
Motoric imprinting
c.
Habitat imprinting
Major characteristics of object imprinting
1.
2.
Innately controlled temporal motor pattern
Takes place during early sensitive phase
For parental imprinting
For sexual imprinting
0
Time - days
30
Learning Processes
6. Imprinting
Major characteristics of object imprinting
1.
2.
3.
Innately controlled temporal motor pattern
Takes place during early sensitive phase
Relatively irreversible
a.
Object imprinting
i.
Parental (filial) imprinting
ii.
Sexual imprinting
b.
Motoric imprinting
c.
Habitat imprinting
Learning Processes
6. Imprinting
a.
Object imprinting
i.
Parental (filial) imprinting
ii.
Sexual imprinting
b.
Motoric imprinting
c.
Habitat imprinting
Major characteristics of object imprinting
1.
2.
3.
4.
Innately controlled temporal motor pattern
Takes place during early sensitive phase
Relatively irreversible
Time lag in expression of sexual imprinting period
Learning Processes
6. Imprinting
Motoric imprinting
-formation of a memory template - needs to be perfected
a.
Object imprinting
i.
Parental (filial) imprinting
ii.
Sexual imprinting
b.
Motoric imprinting
c.
Habitat imprinting
Learning Processes
6. Imprinting
Motoric imprinting - sensitive phase
a.
Object imprinting
i.
Parental (filial) imprinting
ii.
Sexual imprinting
b.
Motoric imprinting
c.
Habitat imprinting
Song sparrow
White crowned sparrow
Learning Processes
6. Imprinting
Crude template (innate)
a.
Object imprinting
i.
Parental (filial) imprinting
ii.
Sexual imprinting
b.
Motoric imprinting
c.
Habitat imprinting
Own species song heard
Template matched to song heard
Template is perfected
Testosterone
Final song is perfected
Song output
Hear own song
Compare to template
Learning Processes
6. Imprinting
Crude template (innate)
a.
Object imprinting
i.
Parental (filial) imprinting
ii.
Sexual imprinting
b.
Motoric imprinting
c.
Habitat imprinting
Own species song heard
Memorization phase
Template matched to song heard
Template is perfected
Testosterone
Final song is perfected
Song output
Hear own song
Compare to template
Learning Processes
6. Imprinting
Crude template (innate)
Own species song heard
a.
Object imprinting
i.
Parental (filial) imprinting
ii.
Sexual imprinting
b.
Motoric imprinting
c.
Habitat imprinting
Memorization Phase
Template matched to song heard
Template is perfected
Testosterone
Final song is perfected
Song output
Hear own song
Compare to template
Motor Phase
Learning Processes
6. Imprinting
Habitat imprinting
a.
Object imprinting
i.
Parental (filial) imprinting
ii.
Sexual imprinting
b.
Motoric imprinting
c.
Habitat imprinting
Migrating salmon
learn characteristics of
natal stream
Learning Processes
Other systems associated with learning
1)
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
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