Nature and Patterns of Behavioral Responses

Subject Outline

ADiverse conceptions of animal behaviour
- 1The variety of animal behaviour
- 2Classification of animal behaviour
- 3Components of animal behaviour
BPatterns of stereotyped response: unlearned behavioral reactions of organisms to some environmental stimulus
- 1Plant movements: tropic and nastic movements, nutation, other autonomous movements
- 2Animal movements: reflex and reflexlike activities, taxes, fixed action patterns and instinct
- 3Photoperiodism
CHormonal and nervous control of behaviour
- 1Interaction of endocrine and nervous systems
- 2Hormonal influences on behaviour; e.g., by sex hormones
- 3The nervous system and behaviour: the role of the nervous system in receiving information, processing it in the brain and spinal cord, and initiating the appropriate response
DEvolution of behaviour
- 1Evidence of the genetic determination of behaviour
- 2The influence of experience on behaviour: phyletic patterns in the evolution of learning