UNIT 4 BRAIN, BEHAVIOUR & EXPERIENCE AREA OF STUDY 1 LEARNING

DEFINING LEARNING Learning can be defined as a relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs as a result of experience Can occur intentionally or unintentionally Can be active or passive Something is different about an organism after learning has taken place Described as relatively permanent because most, if not all, behaviours can be modified KK 1 – PAGE 372-373

BEHAVIOUR NOT DEPENDENT ON LEARNING Not all behaviour needs to be learned. The following behaviours occur automatically: Reflex Actions Fixed-Action Patterns Maturation KK 1 – PAGE 373-376

BEHAVIOUR NOT DEPENDENT ON LEARNING REFLEX ACTIONS REFLEX ACTION = An automatic involuntary behaviour that does not require prior experience and occurs in the same way each time useful for survival STIMULI REFLEX RESPONSE KK 1 – PAGE 373

BEHAVIOUR NOT DEPENDENT ON LEARNING FIXED-ACTION PATTERNS (SPECIES SPECIFIC BEHAVIOUR/INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOUR) FIXED ACTION = An innate (inborn) predisposition to behave PATTERN in a certain way in response to a specific environmental stimulus that is observable within a particular species or sub-group of species All members of the species (or all members of the same sex of the species) demonstrate the behaviour The behaviour is similar whenever it is executed When the organism reaches the right level of maturation, it will produce the behaviour the first time it’s required, with no need to learn it The behaviour is difficult to change The behaviour is complex KK 1 – PAGE 373-375

BEHAVIOUR NOT DEPENDENT ON LEARNING BEHAVIOUR DEPENDENT ON MATURATION MATURATION = A developmental process leading towards maturity, based on the orderly sequence of changes that occurs in the nervous system and other bodily structures controlled by genetic inheritance SIT UP WITHOUT CRAWLING STANDING WITH SUPPORT SUPPORT The behaviour occurs automatically The time it occurs is genetically programmed into an individual’s genes No amount of practice will hasten the onset KK 1 – PAGE 375-376

HOMEWORK LEARNING ACTIVITY 10.1 (pg.376) LEARNING ACTIVITY 10.2 (pg.377) KK 1 – LEARNING ACTIVITY 10.1 (PAGE 376) KK 1 – LEARNING ACTIVITY 10.2 (PAGE 377)