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A.4 Innate and learned behaviour

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Option A: Neurobiology and behaviour » Option A: Neurobiology and behaviour (Additional higher level topics) » A.4 Innate and learned behaviour

Description

Nature of science:
Looking for patterns, trends and discrepancies—laboratory experiments and field investigations helped in the understanding of different types of behaviour and learning. (3.1)

Understandings:

Innate behaviour is inherited from parents and so develops independently of the environment.
Autonomic and involuntary responses are referred to as reflexes.
Reflex arcs comprise the neurons that mediate reflexes.
Reflex conditioning involves forming new associations.
Learned behaviour develops as a result of experience.
Imprinting is learning occurring at a particular life stage and is independent of the consequences of behaviour.
Operant conditioning is a form of learning that consists of trial and error experiences.
Learning is the acquisition of skill or knowledge.
Memory is the process of encoding, storing and accessing information.

Applications and skills:

Application: Withdrawal reflex of the hand from a painful stimulus.
Application: Pavlov’s experiments into reflex conditioning in dogs.
Application: The role of inheritance and learning in the development of birdsong.
Skill: Analysis of data from invertebrate behaviour experiments in terms of the effect on chances of survival and reproduction.
Skill: Drawing and labelling a diagram of a reflex arc for a pain withdrawal reflex.

Guidance:

Drawing of reflex arc should include the receptor cell, sensory neuron, relay neuron, motor neuron and effector.

Theory of knowledge:

It is easy for us to guess how the behaviour of an animal might influence its chance of survival and reproduction. Is intuition a valid starting point for scientists?

Aims:

Aim 7: Data logging using an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor to analyse neuromuscular reflexes.
Aim 8: Experiments with animals—implications of today’s animal policies for experimental science in Pavlov’s experiments.

Directly related questions

16N.3.HL.TZ0.6b: Describe an example of learned behaviour.
17M.3.HL.TZ1.6c: Predict whether an animal such as a laboratory rat could be encouraged to learn a new behaviour...
17M.3.HL.TZ1.6d: Using an example, describe how innate behaviour may increase the chances of survival of a species.
17M.3.HL.TZ2.6c: Outline the structure of a reflex arc.
20N.3.HL.TZ0.7b: Describe the role of inheritance and learning in birdsongs.
17N.3.HL.TZ0.08:
Outline innate and learned behaviour.
18N.3.HL.TZ0.6a: Outline how this experiment shows learned behaviour.
18N.3.HL.TZ0.6c.i: Define, with an example, operant conditioning.
18N.3.HL.TZ0.6b: Deduce, with a reason, whether the patient is left-handed or right-handed.
18N.3.HL.TZ0.6c.ii: Define, with an example, imprinting.
18M.3.HL.TZ2.7b: With reference to the experiments on habituation, state the effect of repeated stimulation on the...
18M.3.HL.TZ2.7a: State the effector in this reflex arc.
19M.3.HL.TZ1.8:
A dog owner wants to teach a dog to stop jumping up on people.

[Source: © Nevit Dilmen]

Explain how operant conditioning could be used to train the dog.
19M.3.HL.TZ1.4b: Outline the evidence that MDMA leads to impulsive behaviour.
19M.3.HL.TZ1.4a: Calculate the difference in the number of former users of MDMA and those who have never used the...
19M.3.HL.TZ1.4c: Explain the effect MDMA has on the metabolism in the brain.
19M.3.HL.TZ2.5b.i:
Evaluate how the data supports the hypothesis that honeybees are able to learn to use cues to find the path through new mazes.
19M.3.HL.TZ2.5a: Distinguish between learned behaviour and innate behaviour.
19M.3.HL.TZ2.5b.ii: Suggest an advantage of such behaviour.
19N.3.HL.TZ0.7c: Outline operant conditioning, giving an example.

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DP Biology Questionbank

A.4 Innate and learned behaviour

Description

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