Animal Behavior and Genetics Overview

Modal Action Patterns (MAPs)

• Series of related actions found in nearly all members of a species
• Similar to reflexes due to genetic basis, lack of individual variability
• Involve the whole organism, not just muscles
• Elicited by events called releasers (e.g., chemical trails)
• Examples include migration, mating rituals

Behavior

• Way an organism acts towards others
• General behavior traits are heavily influenced by genes (e.g., anxiety)

Habituation

• Decrease in intensity or probability of a reflex response
• Occurs from repeated exposure to a stimulus

Learning

• Change in behavior due to experience

Hybridization

• Crossbreeding of closely related species (e.g., wolf-dog)

Mutation

• Abrupt change in a gene

Natural Selection

• Evolution through organisms better adapted to their environment, resulting in more offspring
• Driven by environmental conditions (e.g., climate, food)

Reflex

• Relationship between an event and a simple response (unconditional reflex)

Releaser

• Stimulus that elicits a modal action pattern

Stimulus

• Any event that affects behavior

Human Evolution

• Humans are still evolving, shaped by behavior and environment
• Natural selection favors behaviors that increase survival
• These behaviors are passed down through generations (similar to operant conditioning)
• Example: resilience of Indigenous people

Field Mouse vs. Grizzly Bear

• Evolution favors traits suited to a specific environment and survival strategy
• Small size, fast speed, and high reproductive rate are advantageous for field mice

Natural Selection & Environment

• Environment determines beneficial traits for survival and reproduction
• Environmental conditions create selective pressures

Learning & Natural Selection

• What we learn is part of natural selection
• Learn cognitive skills to adapt to environmental changes (e.g., finding food, avoiding danger)

New Reflex for Humans

• "Alert Reflex" - heightened awareness from environmental cues
• Increased focus, hearing, and blood flow to muscles

Natural Selection & Learning

• Natural selection operates slowly over generations
• Learning allows rapid adaptation to new situations

Reflexes, MAPs, and General Behavior Traits

• Similar: innate, genetically programmed to aid survival
• Differences: reflexes are simple, MAPs are complex sequences, and general behavior traits are more flexible

Learning & Adaptability

• Learning can be non-adaptive (e.g., harmful habits)
• Not all learned behaviors enhance survival

Captive vs. Wild Animals

• Captive animals may behave differently due to controlled environments
• Their true nature may be revealed in situations requiring natural behavior (e.g., mating rituals)

ABA Reversal Design

• Type of experiment where behavior is observed first without, then with, then without, then with a variable.

Anecdotal Evidence

• First or secondhand reports of personal experience

Aversive Stimulus

• Stimulus an animal or person avoids
• Removing the aversive stimulus is reinforcing

Baseline

• Observation of behavior before any change

Between-Subjects Experiment

• Experimental design where an independent variable is applied across different groups

Case Study

• Detailed study and description of a single case or person

Control Group

• Group not exposed to the independent variable

Cumulative Record

• Graphic record of behavior over time. Number of times acted upon since earlier measurement

Fluency

• Measure of learning (number of correct responses per minute)

Dependent Variable

• Variable being measured

Descriptive Study

• Study that describes a group or its members (using surveys)

Experiment

• Study where the effect of one or more independent variables on one or more dependent variables is measured, quantifies change.

Experimental Group

• Group exposed to the independent variable

Independent Variable

• Variable being manipulated by the researcher

Matched Sampling

• Matching characteristics (e.g., age, sex) of groups in an experiment to reduce differences

Within-Subject Experiment

• Experiment where the same subject undergoes the independent variable over time.

Topography

• Physical form or shape of a behavior (exact movements, actions)

Speed, Rate, Latency

• Speed: How quickly something is done
• Rate: How often something is done
• Latency: Time between stimulus and response

Learning and Language

• To quantify changes in language learning (e.g., pronunciation, fluency)

Rate of Behavior in Cumulative Records

• Steep slopes = faster rate, flat lines = no action, shows total of occurrences over time

Matched Sampling

• Controls variables by ensuring groups are similar in characteristics

Statistical Analysis

• Least likely in single-subject experiments where only one person's behavior is observed over time.

Animal Cruelty in Research

• Defend animal research for advancing human health and scientific knowledge.

Eyeblinking

• Valid behavior for studying learning, easily measurable, and can be conditioned

Learning Definition

• Defining learning as a change in the brain produced by experience, is limited & helpful.
• Considers brain changes and behavior in one analysis.
• Ignoring non-physical changes like cognitive shifts.
• Doesn't fully capture complexity of learning like social learning.