Module 1
Module 2
Module 3
Module 4
Module 5
100
Comparative psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes across species; including the behavioral similarities and differences as well as how behavior relates to genetics, ontogeny, phylogeny, and adaptation. This is the ___________ basis of behavior.
Biological
100
In an experimental study, Marler took bird eggs which would then hatch under captivity, and during the critical learning stage he played recordings of another area’s local dialect. The baby birds would grow up to have incomplete songs and with practice their songs got closer to the dialect that was played to them, not their parents dialect from where their eggs were laid. Which hypothesis does this support?
Acoustic stimulus hypothesis (NOTE… learn all 3: genetic differences hypothesis, acoustic stimulus hypothesis, and social interaction hypothesis)
100
Noam Chomsky's universal theory of grammar states that…
Humans have an innate, genetic capacity for language acquisition
100
Natural selection may have caused a ___ of existing abilities.
Repurposing
100
What are the two solo approaches to avoiding predators?
Cryptic strategies (staying hidden) and conspicuous strategies (warning predators)
200
What is the ultimate level explanation of male desert digger bees’ strong smell towards female desert digger bees.
Heightened smell sensitivity to females leads to higher reproduction
200
True or false. The similarities in brain anatomy and gene expression of vocal learners argue against the hypothesis that song-learning abilities evolved independently.
True
200
What are hox genes?
A group of related genes that specify the development of regions of the body plan of an embryo, these genes ensure correct placement and structure
200
What kind of cells support spatial mapping?
Hippocampal Cells
200
What is stotting?
Stotting is when an animal leaps into the air when threatened by predators
300
Which sound frequency (kHz) is the best prediction of male cricket calls?
5-kHz
300
What is a high vocal area (HVC)?
The HVC is a collection of neurons that connects with other parts of the brain to send messages to the syrinx. The syrinx produces sound, like our larynx
300
What is gene expression? Identify the two main steps, as well as what occurs between those processes.
When info from a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product, usually proteins. The two main steps are transcription and translation. During transcription, DNA is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA). During translation, the mRNA is translated into a protein.
300
___ are neural circuits that generate rhythmic motor patterns without sensory input (i.e., respiration, locomotion)
Central Pattern Generators (CPGs)
300
What are Batesian mimicry and Müllerian mimicry?
Batesian mimicry when an edible species resembles a distasteful or dangerous one. Müllerian mimicry is when two (or more) genuinely toxic or dangerous species resemble each other.
400
The Darwinian Puzzle of infanticide (in Langurs) involves male Langurs killing baby Langurs when a new male arrives. What are the benefits of this behavior?
Females go into ovulation when they are not nursing young. Have more offspring, better chance of passing on genes.
400
True or false. Neanderthals showed no evidence of shared speech capacity to modern humans.
False. The FOXP2 variant is found in Neanderthals, which suggests shared speech capacity.
400
What is ontogeny? Which animal did we discuss in class as a strong example of ontogeny and how does it illustrate this concept?
Ontogeny = WHEN, meaning ontogeny looks at the development of an organism's behavior, and psychological processes throughout its lifespan. Bee studies provide great examples of Ontogeny as worker bees change behavioral states over the course of their lifetime.
400
Tactile stimulation from a properly sized object triggers the mating sequence due to what?
an Innate Releasing Mechanism (IRM)
400
What is the purpose of pursuit deterrence signaling? Provide one example.
Pursuit deterrence signaling signals strength and stamina, discouraging predators from initiating pursuit. An example of this is lizard push ups.
500
True or false. In adaptive hypotheses for human behavior, a hypothesis is designed to explain why people do what they do, not justify their actions as moral, or traits as desirable.
True. When a claim is made that a trait is adaptive, this only means that having this characteristic tends to propagate genes. NOT that it is superior or that humans are choosing to behave adaptively!
500
What are the 5 non-mutally exclusive hypotheses?
Environmental adaptation hypothesis, information-sharing hypothesis, recognition hypothesis, sexual selection hypothesis, geographic matching hypothesis.
500
What is the developmental constraint hypothesis, and what is one example discussed in class that illustrates this hypothesis?
Phenotypic changes that help an organism survive adversity early on in life, can later negatively impact their overall fitness in adulthood. Baboon females who were starved early in life and had fewer young, had less young to survive and also died earlier. Consequently, their young did not do as well as the offspring of females who were not starved.
500
What is it called when animals use feedback information from the surrounding environment to change priorities over time
Environmental Stimulus Hypothesis
500
What is the Ideal Free Distribution (IFD) Theory?
IFD is when some animals choose lower quality areas, but this doesn’t reduce their fitness. Equal reproductive success can occur in both high and low quality areas