Ontogeny of Behaviour
Development and Learning
Ontogeny of Behaviour
Innate behaviour pattern
Ontogeny of Behaviour
Genome information
encodes
CNS Learning CNS
contains
IRM IRM
FAP Maturation FAP
or or
MAP MAP
IMMATURE 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 -cliff nesting
-young wander -young never wander
-Parents learn to -Parents don’t learn to
recognize their own recognize their own
young 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 a. Object imprinting
i. Parental (filial) imprinting
ii. Sexual imprinting
6. Imprinting b. Motoric imprinting
c. Habitat imprinting
Stimulus IRM Imprint on
(very rough) 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:
[Link]
Learning Processes a. Object imprinting
i. Parental (filial) imprinting
ii. Sexual imprinting
6. Imprinting b. Motoric imprinting
c. Habitat imprinting
IRM - characteristics of sexual partner
In males - very rough IRM
In females - much more developed
Learning Processes a. Object imprinting
i. Parental (filial) imprinting
ii. Sexual imprinting
6. Imprinting b. Motoric imprinting
c. Habitat imprinting
Immelman - imprinting in finches
Society Finch Zebra Finch
Learning Processes a. Object imprinting
i. Parental (filial) imprinting
ii. Sexual imprinting
6. Imprinting b. Motoric imprinting
Immelman - imprinting in finches
c. Habitat imprinting
Zebra finch raised with society finch
Remove at 33 to 66 days
Isolated until sexually mature (4 months)
Tested males
Tested females
Court society Attack or Don’t respond Respond to
finch females ignore zebra to society finch zebra finch
finch females courtship courtship
Learning Processes a. Object imprinting
i. Parental (filial) imprinting
ii. Sexual imprinting
6. Imprinting b. Motoric imprinting
c. Habitat imprinting
Major characteristics of object imprinting
1. Innately controlled temporal motor pattern
Learning Processes a. Object imprinting
i. Parental (filial) imprinting
ii. Sexual imprinting
6. Imprinting b. Motoric imprinting
c. Habitat imprinting
Major characteristics of object imprinting
1. Innately controlled temporal motor pattern
2. Takes place during early sensitive phase
For parental imprinting For sexual imprinting
0 Time - days 30
Learning Processes a. Object imprinting
i. Parental (filial) imprinting
ii. Sexual imprinting
6. Imprinting b. Motoric imprinting
c. Habitat imprinting
Major characteristics of object imprinting
1. Innately controlled temporal motor pattern
2. Takes place during early sensitive phase
3. Relatively irreversible
Learning Processes a. Object imprinting
i. Parental (filial) imprinting
ii. Sexual imprinting
6. Imprinting b. Motoric imprinting
c. Habitat imprinting
Major characteristics of object imprinting
1. Innately controlled temporal motor pattern
2. Takes place during early sensitive phase
3. Relatively irreversible
4. Time lag in expression of sexual imprinting period
Learning Processes a. Object imprinting
i. Parental (filial) imprinting
6. Imprinting ii. Sexual imprinting
b. Motoric imprinting
Motoric imprinting
-formation of a memory template - needs to be perfected c. Habitat imprinting
Learning Processes a. Object imprinting
i. Parental (filial) imprinting
6. Imprinting ii. Sexual imprinting
b. Motoric imprinting
Motoric imprinting - sensitive phase
c. Habitat imprinting
Song sparrow
White crowned sparrow
Learning Processes a. Object imprinting
i. Parental (filial) imprinting
6. Imprinting ii. Sexual imprinting
b. Motoric imprinting
Crude template (innate) 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 a. Object imprinting
i. Parental (filial) imprinting
6. Imprinting ii. Sexual imprinting
b. Motoric imprinting
Crude template (innate) 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 a. Object imprinting
i. Parental (filial) imprinting
6. Imprinting ii. Sexual imprinting
b. Motoric imprinting
Crude template (innate) 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 Motor Phase
Learning Processes a. Object imprinting
i. Parental (filial) imprinting
6. Imprinting ii. Sexual imprinting
Habitat 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