Chapter 4' The role of the nervous system in determining behavior'

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Chapter 4. The role of the nervous system in
determining behavior.
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1. What types of studies are done to investigate
proximate explanations of behavior controlled by
the nervous system?

• What nerves, receptors involved in animals
  signaling, recognition of stimulus, response?
• Types of studies compare different species-
  same signal
• Compare species nervous systems
• Compare responses

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2. A) How is the vertebrate nervous system
organized?
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2. B) Draw a neuron, label all parts and give a
function for all parts.

• Dendrites input signal
• Branches vary w/ species
• Connect to receptors
• Smell, taste, touch, etc.
• Cell body
• cell organelles, cytoplasm
• Axon output signal
• Action potential
• Electrical charge carries nerve impulse along
  cell membrane

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3. How do complex reactions occur from a simple
stimulus?

•   fixed action pattern (FAP) - instinctual
  response generated by a stimulus (external or
  internal event which is perceived by an organism.

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4. How are FAPs generated?

•  Stimulus external or internal cue perceived by
  an organism. Elicts a response by the receiver. 
   
•  Innate releasing mechanism releaser  -
  internal nerve system results in a FAP or
  response by organism. 

Stimulus?Receptor?Brain?Spinal cord?output action
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5. Describe Tinbergens study showing that
objects with a bill shape and red color elict
begging responses from baby chicks.
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Results of Tinbergens experiment with baby
gulls. How does this support FAP theory? What
are the key stimuli in begging behavior? (5)

• What does each of the following show? From graph?
• A) gull head cutout
• B) gull head model without eyes
• C) gull head model without red spot
• D) beak shape model, no eyes, no head shape but
  red color

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6. What is a Supernormal stimulus? How does this
relate to FAP theory?

•  oversized or brilliant colors often stimulate a
  larger FAP. Ex. Beer bottles autralian beetle.

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What is an instinct? Why is it
important?Compare pros and cons of instinctual
behavior.

• A behavior pattern that appears fully formed the
  first time it occurs.
• Advantages Allows quick response
• Disadvantages not flexible, once triggered,
  cant stop

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8. What is the significance of code breakers?
How do they work?

• Cuckoo baby reed warbler adult
• Stimulus of large baby with begging response
• Baby cuckoo brown headed cowbirds elict begging
  response from host species

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9. How can chemical signals be used to break
codes and deceive prey?

• Boa Spider
• Sex phermone of moth prey
• Attracts moths, then eats them.

Mastophora sp.
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10. How do animals use code breaking to escape
predators? Use Noctuid moth auditory receptors as
an example.
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Noctuid moth auditory system. (10)
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Compare A1 A2 receptor function. (10)
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Function of A1 A2 moth receptors (10)

• A1
• Increase firing with higher pitch
• Stop firing if constant ultrasonic
• A2
• do not respond to low level sounds
• Spike in action potential if high pitch

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How does the function of A1 and A2 receptors
translate into evasive behavior? (10)

• A1 A2 both fire
• Moth drops (FAP

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11. What is bias? How do star-nose moles find
food?  What part of the brain is involved?
A
B
C
D
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11. A) Star nosed mole Bias

• A star nose mole
• B eastern mole
• C African hedgehog
• D masked shrew

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Concept of bias (11)
1 2 3, etc
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Bias (11)
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Bias (11)
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11. B) How does bias in star nose moles compare
to bias in other species
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12. What is a Receptive field?  What are the
pros cons? Use toads as an example.

• Toad nerves dont fire if a large object passes
  in front.
• Elicts tongue flick to catch insects if small
  directional pattern occurs
• Receptive field for small moving objects.
• What is the advantage? Disadvantage?

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13. Discuss behavior and adaptation of uv light
filtering in bees, butterflies and birds. Pros
cons?
Find food Find mates cons???
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UV perception in the bluethroat. (13)

• Bluethroat finch uv light used for attracting
  mates and foraging. Why would uv light be useful
  to birds as a communication signal. Summarize
  article below.
• http//jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/full/204/14/
  2499

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Female preference in the bluethroat (13).
What does this graph show??
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14. How does the human brain adapt for specific
functions that determine human behavior?

• Parts of brain important in communication.

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14. B) Look up function for human brain.

• Be able to id each part and give a function.

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14. C) Part of the brain involved in face
recognition. Why important?

• Face recognition

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14. D) Specialization in the visual cortex
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14. E) Word analysis..

• Word recognition

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14. F) Navigation in humans.
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15. How does the nervous system adapt for
navigation and migration in other animals?

• Migration routes for monarch butterflies in N.
  America

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15. A) Experimental manipulation of the clock
alters migration pattern in monarch butterflies

• Shows sun compass determines migration route
  perception of sunlight monitored by butterfly
  brains.

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16. Magnetic field orientation in sea turtles.
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16. Experimental manipulation of magnetic field
alters migration routes.