Biology 338: Lecture 2Spring 1997

Instincts and Learning

  1. Conventional wisdom about instincts and learning
    1. The story of two parrots: galahs and pink cockatoos
      1. Natural history
      2. Cockatoo-reared galah behavior
    2. Conclusion

  2. Instincts
    1. Fixed action pattern = motor program that is "hardwired"
    2. Characteristics
    3. Examples
      1. Chick-pecking in herring gulls
      2. Egg-rolling in greylag geese
      3. Yawning in humans
    4. Control
    5. Case study: Nest construction in mason wasps
      1. Natural history
      2. Nature of control
        1. Hypotheses
        2. Experiment
        3. Predictions
      3. Size of program
        1. Hypotheses
        2. Experiment
        3. Predictions
    6. Code breakers

  3. Learning
    1. Definition
    2. Associative learning
      1. Classical conditioning
      2. Operant conditioning (trial-and-error learning)
    3. Spatial learning

  4. Misconceptions about instincts and learning
    1. Conventional wisdom and the story of two parrots - revisited
    2. Instincts can be modified by experiences
      1. Thynnine wasps and orchids
      2. Pecking behavior in gulls - revisited
    3. Biased learning
      1. Imprinting
      2. Kin discrimination

  5. Evolutionary basis of instincts and learning