Innate Behaviors By Chynna Hayes Biology I Honors

Innate Behaviors By: Chynna Hayes Biology I Honors Mrs. Gottshall 11/17/15

What is innate behaviors? ü Innate behaviors are behaviors one is born knowing. ü It is the ability for an animal or human to perform a behavior the first time it needs to be used.

Who discovered Innate Behaviors? ü In 1973 Konrad Lorenz discovered innate behaviors and won the Nobel Prize for his discovery.

When do we first start using Innate Behaviors? ü Researchers learned that babies use innate behaviors while they are in their mother’s womb during the development of the baby. ü Ex: Baby sucking his or her thumb while in the womb.

Why is Innate behaviors important? ü Innate behaviors is important in helping a species protect itself, provide for itself, and communicate. ü Without innate behaviors species would not have a fast reflex in order to protect itself. ü Ex: Removing your hand from a hot stove because it physically hurts you.

How it works. ü Innate behaviors are introduced by a “command” hormone that arrange activities and actions in groups of peptide neurons in the brain. (Peptide neurons are brain cells that release proteins to help communicate with the body and other brain cells) ü Peptide neurons are triggered at very precise times, leading to each step of the behavior.

When do you use these behaviors? It is possible to start noticing your innate behaviors as you get older. ü Many people mistakenly believe it is learned behavior because it starts being used and noticed at an older age. ü But really, species are born with the particular behavior and you get better at it and use it more often. ü Ex: Chicken go through a pecking stage. But they don’t perform this act of pecking until they are older adults. ü

Migration in Innate Behaviors. ü An increase in the need of resource availability, like food and shelter, is a reason some migrate. ü Ex: Birds fly south in the winter so they can go to a warmer climate. ü Without this innate behavior telling them to do so, animals would die.

Examples of Innate Behaviors. Example in insects: -A spider instinctually knowing their food will be caught in the web they create. ü Example in animals: -A baby sea turtle being hatched without ever seeing its parents, & knowing how to dig out of sand swim. ü Example in humans: -The instinctive fear of heights, possibly saving our ancestors in the past. ü

Fun Facts!! ü Researchers revealed using the sense of hearing, a baby can hear loud noises such as construction working, and movies theaters while in their mothers womb. ü They have also revealed that babies start having their first lesson of their native language while still in the womb.