Elicited or Unconditioned Behavior Occurs without past experience Modifiable with experience (examples: habituation and sensitization

Some Types of Elicited Behaviour An eliciting or unconditioned stimulus elicits a response without any prior learning Types of Elicited Behaviour  Simple Reflex  Orienting Reflex  Taxis (taxes)  Kinesis (kineses)  Fixed/Modal Action Patterns

FAPs/MAPs Sequence of behaviors directed at the eliciting (sign or releasing) stimulus Sometimes requires underlying drive (hydraulic model) Vigor of response depends on how closely the sign stimulus corresponds to the ideal stimulus (e.g., cute baby)  Small (non-ideal)  Normal (ideal)  Supernormal (exaggerated ideal)

Supernormal stimulus An accurate 3-dimensional model of a herring gull's head (a), and a 'supernormal' bill (b).

Supernormal stimulus

Supernormal stimulus? versus 1950s 1990s

Habituation a simple type of learning which is shown by a change in elicited behaviour over trials defined as a reduction in responsiveness (frequency, magnitude) over successive trials sometimes short-lasting and sometimes long lasting

Habituation-One Type of Modifiability Eric Kandel and Aplysia

Kandel`s Experiments Touch Siphon Gill Withdrawal

Habituation touch gill withdrawal

Forms of Habituation Short-Term  lasts only a few minutes  best if stimulus applied at short intervals (2-s) Long-Term  lasts weeks  best if stimulus applied at longer intervals (30-s)

Simplified Circuit

What’s the Mechanism of Short-term? loss of skin sensitivity fatigue decrease in motor synapse decreases in synaptic transmission

Pinsker et al., (1970) Science 167:1740 Evoked Spontaneous Not Muscle Fatigue

What’s the Mechanism of Short-term? loss of skin sensitivity fatigue decrease in motor synapse decreases in synaptic transmission

Not Motor Synapse skin MN SN gill record Kupfermann et al., (1970) Science 167:1743 electrical After Before

What’s the Mechanism of Short-term? loss of skin sensitivity fatigue decrease in motor synapse decreases in synaptic transmission

Not Skin Sensitivity skin touch MN SN gill record MN activity to assay habituation Kupfermann et al., (1970) Science 167:1743 Stage 1

Not Skin Sensitivity Kupfermann et al., (1970) Science 167:1743 skin touch MN SN gill record MN activity to assay habituation block

What’s the Mechanism of Short-term? loss of skin sensitivity fatigue decrease in motor synapse decreases in synaptic transmission

Mechanism of Short-term Habituation Decrease in neurotransmitter released at the synapse with both the motor neuron and the interneuron!

Mechanism of Long-Term Habituation Change in the number of synapses!

Some Properties of Habituated Responses 1.Spontaneous Recovery 2.Dishabituation 3.Generalization

Hi Lo Response Number of Presentations Spontaneous Recovery Time Passes Stimulus

Hi Lo Response Number of Presentations Dishabituation Novel Event (no time passes) Stimulus Habituation Dishabituation

Generalization

Sensitization- Another Type of Modifiability enhanced response to a “benign” stimulus after exposure to a “noxious” one (most common)  for example, startle enhanced response after repeated presentations of a “not so benign” stimulus (less common)  for example, kindling

Rat Startle

Human Startle

Kindling repeated stimulation of hippocampal cells increases responsiveness after being sensitized, very little stimulation is required to produce the seizures related to epilepsy

Dual Process Theory 1. S-R System: Habituation 2. State System: Sensitization Competition between two separate processes

Examples

Conditions Favouring Habituation 1.Calm organism 2.Shorter interstimulus intervals 3.Less variable interstimulus intervals 4.Low intensity 5.Less complexity 6.More trials

Interstimulus Interval

Complexity Trials Looking Time

Imagine……… Kendra is an overly anxious person. She worries about the smallest things. Some examples of the unpleasant symptoms she experiences include excessive sweating, heart palpitations, and a fitful sleep. Her anxiety places her at risk for depression, heart disease, and diabetes. A genetic test reveals Kendra has a vulnerability in the promoter region of her serotonin transporter gene. Her doctor tells her that if her mother had been more loving and attentive when Kendra was younger, she might have been calmer. The doctor maintains experience can program calmness, and calmness acquired by experience is inheritable.

Gene Expression-A third Type of Modifiability Genes affect bodily processes, including emotional regulation Two copies of the “short” version of a promoter for the serotonin transporter gene is a risk factor

Maternal Behavior licking and grooming (LG) and arched-back nursing (ABN) Low LG-ABN mothers High LG-ABN mothers

Attentive Mothering Licking and arched-back nursing by mother  an immediate “calming” effect on baby rats in the first week after birth  a long-term reduction in stress responsiveness the promoter for the short version of serotonin transporter gene is “switched on” by attentive mothering so, a vulnerable pup with two short copies of the promoter for the serotonin transporter gene is cured by its mother’s licking (short gene works better) this environmental effect is passed along to the pup’s own offspring

Brain of Vulnerable Baby Rat high LG-ABN mother short gene expressed less anxiety

Cross-fostering Studies

Imagine……… Kendra’s doctor gives her a prescription for a pill that will promote the activity of the malfunctioning gene. No other therapy is necessary. Kendra’s children inherit the faulty gene, but its function is enhanced.