04/10/2023CEDP 324 - Ryan Sain, Ph.D. 1

Human LearningTopic 2: The Most Basic Learning

Part 2

04/10/2023CEDP 324 - Ryan Sain, Ph.D. 2

MAPs

Modal Action Patterns

Similar to reflexes but more complex

Occur in a single species or related species Occur in nearly all members of the species to

similar stimuli

They change depending on the state of the organism Male stickleback fish

04/10/2023CEDP 324 - Ryan Sain, Ph.D. 3

MAPs

Feeding behavior of the herring-gull

Multiple MAPS working together

Chick pecking – parent regurgitating

What invokes the pecking?

04/10/2023CEDP 324 - Ryan Sain, Ph.D. 4

MAPs

For the herring gulls

Long, thin, moving object, pointed downward with a contrasting red patch at the tip.

The other stimuli were irrelevant

Sign stimulus

Supernormal stimulus

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MAPs and humans

PTSD