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

2. 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
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3. BEHAVIOUR NOT DEPENDENT ON LEARNING
Not all behaviour needs to be learned. The following behaviours occur automatically:
Reflex Actions
Fixed-Action Patterns
Maturation
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4. 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
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5. 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
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6. 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
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7. 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)