Elicited Behaviors Chapter 3 Part 1 PDF

Elicited Behaviors Chapter 3 – Part 1 Elicited Behaviors Elicit To draw out or bring forth Elicited behaviors are drawn out by stimuli that precede them Reflexes Most basic form of elicited behavior Survival Function Examples Startle Response Orienting Response Flexion...

Elicited Behaviors Chapter 3 – Part 1 Elicited Behaviors Elicit To draw out or bring forth Elicited behaviors are drawn out by stimuli that precede them Reflexes Most basic form of elicited behavior Survival Function Examples Startle Response Orienting Response Flexion response Reflex arc Sensory neuron  interneuron (in SC)  motor neuron Modal Action Pattern (MAP) A relatively fixed sequence of responses elicited by certain stimulus In order to be considered a modal action pattern, Part of the behavioral repertoire of all members of a species (or group of related species) Not the result of prior learning experiences Although can be slightly modified by learning The sequence of behaviors occurs in a * rigid order Sign stimulus (releasing stimulus)– a specific stimulus that initiates a MAP example Modal Action Patterns Examples of Modal action patterns Begging of herring gulls Three-spined stickleback Supernormal stimulus – a distorted sign stimulus that elicits a more intense fixed action pattern than a normal sign stimulus Oyster catcher Jewel Beetle Mating Habituation & Sensitization Habituation When repeated, prolonged exposure results in a gradual reduction in responding (not sensory adaptation or response fatigue) Sensitization When exposure to a stimulus results in an increased responding to a later stimulus These effects dissipate after the stimulus hasn’t been presented for a while Habituation & Sensitization Short-term Long-term Sensitization tends to generalize to other stimuli Habituation tends to be more stimulus specific Dishabituation When the presentation of irrelevant novel stimuli cause the habituated response to return Opponent Process Theory Emotional reactions to stimuli are often biphasic (especially to drugs) One emotion occurs during the eliciting stimulus The opposite emotion is observed when the stimulus is terminated E.g., Relaxed and happy while drinking, irritable and nauseated when hungover Both effects dose-dependent Drug tolerance Habitual drug users often report not enjoying the drug as much as naïve users Along with decline primary drug reaction is a growth in the opponent aftereffect E.g., withdrawal Opponent Process Theory My neighbor’s son was struck by lightning as he was returning from a golf course. He was thrown to the ground. His shorts were torn to shreds and he was burned across his thighs. When his companion sat him up, he screamed “I’m dead, I’m dead.” His legs were numb and blue and he could not move. By the time he reached the nearest hospital he was euphoric. (From Solomon, 1980) An emotional event elicits two competing processes: 1) an a-process (primary process) Elicited by the event 2) a b-process (opponent process) Elicited by the a-process and serves to counteract the process (lags behind, bc activated by a-process) Opponent Process Theory Emotional reactions are biphasic; a primary process is followed by an opponent process The primary reaction becomes weaker with repeated stimulation The weakening of the primary reaction with repeated exposure is accompanied by a strengthening of the opponent process These neurophysiological mechanisms evolved to maintain emotional stability or homeostasis  Introduction to Learning and Behavior 4e By Russell A. Powell, P. Lynne Honey, and Diane G. Symbaluk Copyright © 2013 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Summary Reflexes Modal Action Patterns Habituation & Sensitization Opponent Process Theory