18 April 2007

IB 429: Animal Behavior

Physiology of Behavior

Prof. Fred Delcomyn

Office: 422A Morrill HallPhone: 333-8793e-mail: delcomyn@life.uiuc.edu

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Behavior is a set of muscle contractions in a particular pattern and sequence.

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To understand the physiological basis of behavior, ask:

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How is a nervous system able to generate a pattern of impulses targeted to the appropriate muscles at the appropriate time?

To understand the physiological basis of behavior, ask:

18 April 2007

Behavior is determined in part by the amount of tissue in the nervous system and how it is assembled (its structure).

Basic concepts

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Behavior is determined in part by the amount of tissue in the nervous system and how it is assembled (its structure).

Basic concepts

It is also determined by how the neural tissue works (its function).

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Lecture Outline

I. Physiology of Sensory Systems

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Lecture Outline

I. Physiology of Sensory SystemsQuestion – How are sensory systems organized to allow animals to adapt to and respond to their environments?

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II. Neural Basis of Behavior

Lecture Outline

I. Physiology of Sensory SystemsQuestion – How are sensory systems organized to allow animals to adapt to and respond to their environments?

18 April 2007

II. Neural Basis of BehaviorQuestion – How does an animal’s nervous system orchestrate its behavior?

Lecture Outline

I. Physiology of Sensory SystemsQuestion – How are sensory systems organized to allow animals to adapt to and respond to their environments?

18 April 2007

I. Physiology of Sensory Systems

Question – How are sensory systems organized to allow animals to adapt to and respond to their environments?

18 April 2007

1. All neurons have some sensitivity to environmental stimuli.

Sensory Systems

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1. All neurons have some sensitivity to environmental stimuli.

Sensory Systems

2. Sense organs are specialized to respond to particular stimuli.

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Photoreception – detecting light (vision)

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Photoreception – detecting light (vision)

Chemoreception – detecting chemicals (smell & taste)

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Photoreception – detecting light (vision)

Chemoreception – detecting chemicals (smell & taste)

Mechanoreception – detecting physical touch or movement

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1. All neurons have some sensitivity to environmental stimuli.

Sensory Systems

2. Sense organs are specialized to respond to various stimuli.

3. Sense organs filter stimuli.

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Key concepts in sensory system function

1. Stimulus processing: Sensory systems report relevant information, not all information.

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Key concepts in sensory system function

2. Tuning: Sensory receptors are tuned to biologically relevant stimuli.

1. Stimulus processing: Sensory systems report relevant information, not all information.

18 April 2007

Key concepts in sensory system function

2. Tuning: Sensory receptors are tuned to biologically relevant stimuli.

3. Topographic organization: Sensory regions of brains are topographically organized.

1. Stimulus processing: Sensory systems report relevant information, not all information.

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Example of a mechanoreceptive system:

Auditory system (hearing)

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Example of a simple auditory system:

Moth ear

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Example of a complex auditory system:

Bat ear

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Bat echolocation

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Topographic mapping

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Question – How are sensory systems organized to allow animals to adapt to and respond to their environments?

18 April 2007

Question – How are sensory systems organized to allow animals to adapt to and respond to their environments?

1. – Functionally, they take advantage of natural neural sensitivity to environmental stimuli to detect behaviorally relevant information.

18 April 2007

Question – How are sensory systems organized to allow animals to adapt to and respond to their environments?

1. – Functionally, they take advantage of natural neural sensitivity to environmental stimuli to detect behaviorally relevant information.

2. – Structurally, they are organized to build a sophisticated view of an animal’s surroundings.