Download - Stimuli lesson 4
Lesson 4: Stimuli
Foundation Science
SC 22101
We will Study Types of Responses to Stimuli….
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What kind of animal is this?
What is the stimulus it
responds to?
ReflexesGuesses?Reflex – a response that
happens fast and unconscious (unconscious = do not have to think)
Examples of reflexes? Blinking, sneezing, knee jerk, pupil dilating, shivering
Stimuli for these reflexes?
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Reflexes
Brain not used in reflex reactions – we don’t think about it!
Why are reflexes so much faster than learned behaviors?The signals in nerves don’t have to travel to brain
Reflex arc video…
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List of Reflexes
Instincts
Instincts – behaviors that are “programmed” into the DNA.
Animals DO NOT learn instincts.
Examples of instincts?
-Birds fly south for the winter
-Salmon find the way back to the same exact river they were born in
-Baby snakes can catch insects right after they are born
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What Stimuli Trigger Instincts?
Our examples:
Birds that fly south for winter – stimulus = amount of daylight (=time of year)
Salmon find their way back to same river – stimulus = earth’s magnetic field and smell
Learned Behaviors
Learned behaviors - come from practice or experience.
Examples:-Teaching your dog to sit down when he hears the word “sit” (Stimulus?)-Seagulls following a fishing boat for food (Stimulus?)
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Do You Now Know the Difference Between Instincts, Reflexes and
Learned Behaviors?
Instinct? Reflex?
or Learned Behavior…….?
Questions1. What is reaction time (we studied this in lab)?2. What is the difference between an instinct and a reflex?3. Give 3 examples of instinctive behaviors, and 3 examples of learned
behaviors. 4. Give one example of an instinct in dogs.5. What does unconscious mean?6. Your reaction time for grabbing the ruler in lab was about 0.25 seconds.
Do you think your reaction time when you touch a hot cup would be faster or slower? Why?