PSY397H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Konrad Lorenz, Aplysia, Habituation
Document Summary
An examination of experimental findings and theory documenting the plasticity of the brain and its relationship to behavior. Memory is changes in strength of connections as a result of prior experience. Plasticity is not everywhere in the brain. To enable the organism to appropriately respond to environmental stimuli. Responding to environmental stimuli allows the organism to: Avoid danger (predators, toxins, and other hazards) And in general, to seek out optimal environmental conditions. Chemosensory detection of east in the nematode. All neurons connect a specific way in organisms. In a nematode, responds always the same way: used a lot due to simple ns. Flying in straight line using the moons light in the moth: they cannot learn. Reflexive responses allow little flexibility and work well only under stable and simple environmental conditions. Simple reflexive response (gill or siphon withdrawal) to touch. Sensitization to electric shock: this is non-associate learning. Genes have deterministic effects, behavior is not changed by repeated experience.
