Option E: Neurobiology and Behaviour

Wk.

E.1.1 State that "behavior of animals is related to the environmental context."

E.1.4 Explain one example of each of the following types of behavior: migration, grooming, communication, courtship and mate selection, (using species of birds of mammals other than humans).

E.1.5 Explain the need for quantitative data in studies of behavior.

Watch the video of "Trials of life" making notes about types of communication.  Summary Sheet.     YOUTUBE_worksheet.

migration -         artic tern, swallow, white stork, blue whale
grooming -         baboon
communication - bird songs, alarm responses and hierarchal dominance patterns in wolves and red deer
courtship -          male disply (peacock, mallard duck, great crested grebe)
mate selection -  territory and song (birds) or combat (stags)

Ant Teacher Experiment      Observaions experiment

Neurobiology Powerpoint

Fly behaviour expt

E.2.4       Draw the structure of the human eye.      :include the sclera, cornea, conjunctiva, eyelid, choroid, aqueous humour, pupil, lens, iris, vitreous humour, retina, fovea, optic nerve and blind spot.

E.2.5     Annotate diagrams of human retina. Include names of rod and cone cells, bipolar neurones, ganglion cells and the direction of light movement. 

 E.2.6      Include:
• use in dim light versus bright light
• one type sensitive to all wavelengths versus three types sensitive to red, blue and green light
• passage of impulses from a group of rod cells to a single neurone of the optic nerve versus     passage from a single cone cell to a single neurone. 

E.3.3 Draw the structure of the spinal cord and its spinal nerves to show the parts of a reflex arc.

E.3.4 Outline the pupil reflex and one other cranial reflex.

E.3.7    Discuss the use of the pupil reflex in testing for brain death.   Some discussion about what is meant by death could be included here.

E.3.2 Outline the pain withdrawal reflex and one other human spinal reflex.

E.3.5 Draw the gross structure of the brain & one function of each part; including: the medulla oblongata, cerebellum, hypothalamus, pituitary gland and cerebral hemispheres.

The five types of receptors: mechano-, photo-, electro-, thermo-, chemoreceptors as ENERGY TRANSDUCERS.

The Eye

good web site on the eye

Eye & Retina diagrams to label and annotate

Visual cortex and the path of the optic nerve

The Brain - biochemistry of learning
Try this interactive game, "Match the Animal to its Brain."
http://www.paulawirth.com/portfolio/match.html

Reflexes.

Reflex arc diagram

Knee reflex animation

Retina animation

E.3.1 Define innate behavior.

E.3.8          Define taxis and kinesis.     Reference should be made to the distinction between positive and negative responses. 

E.3.9          Explain, using one example of each behaviour, how the responses in E.3.8 improve animals' chances of survival.                    3

 Examples include:
• taxes—flatworms moving towards food (chemotaxis) and Euglena moving towards light (phototaxis) 
• kineses—woodlice moving about less in optimum (humid) conditions and more in an unfavourable (dry) atmosphere. 

Kineses: The rate of movement is increased by the stimulus but not it's direction.

Taxes: Movement of an animal towards or away from a stimulus.
Maggot Experiment

Planning Experiment on Maggot Behaviour

Thorough investigation

Brain: five structures and their functions

Extension on Reflex Arc and revision

E.4.1       Define classical conditioning.   

E.4.2       Outline Pavlov's experiments on conditioning of dogs. 2

E.4.3       Define operant conditioning.            

E.4.4       Outline Skinner's experiments into operant conditioning.                    2

E.4.5       Define imprinting.   

E.4.6       Outline Lorenz's experiments on imprinting in geese.     2

E.4.7       Discuss how the process of learning improves the chances of survival.

Classical Conditioning: - eg Pavlov's dogs.

lovely mp3 webcast lesson on Classical conditioning

Operant Conditioning: - eg Skinnner.   Train Skinnner's bird

Imprinting: - eg Lorenz and his geese 
                                          

Insight Learning: - 

 Extension: Biozone links

Experience operant conditioning yourself using this link to test if you are a winner.

E.5.1       List three examples of animals that show social behaviour.             1

                Suitable examples include honey bees, ants, termites, chimpanzees and naked mole rats.

E.5.3     Discuss the role of altruistic behaviour in social organizations using two examples.

Honey Bee Colonies

BeeBehavior
http://maarec.cas.psu.edu/bkCD/HBBiology/colony_org.html

Bee Dance language and Orientation
Inhttp://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/insects/ahb/inf8.html

Bees: Dancing under a Polarized Sky — Honeybee navigation

http://www.polarization.com/bees/bees.html

Bees: the Individual and the Colony
http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/~vista/html_pubs/BEEKEEP/CHAPT1/chap1.html

 

Altruism

E.6.1            State that the ANS consists of sympathetic and parasympathetic motor neurons.  1

E.6.2            State that the roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic system are largely antagonistic.

E.6.3            State that the ANS serves the heart, blood vessels, digestive system and smooth muscles.        

E.6.5       Discuss the relationships between the influence of the conscious part of the brain and automatic reflexes as shown by bladder or anus control, meditation and yoga

Make notes about the autonomic nervous system (ANS), include the sympathetic and parasympathetic, contriol of heart beat, saliva production and iris, also how to consciously control the ANS

E.7.1      State that synapses of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) are classified according to the neurotransmitter used, including acetylcholine and noradrenaline.                         1

E.7.2      Explain how presynaptic neurons can either encourage or inhibit postsynaptic transmission by depolarization or hyperpolarizaton of the postsynaptic membrane.        3

E.7.3      Outline how pain is sensed and how endorphins and enkephalins can act as painkillers.            2

E.7.4      Outline the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and the involvement of dopamine.                         2

E.7.5      Explain that psychoactive drugs affect the brain and personality by either increasing or decreasing synaptic transmission.        3

 An outline of the ways synaptic transmission can be increased or decreased is expected. 

 E.7.6      Discuss the behavioural effects of the excitatory psychoactive drugs nicotine, cocaine and amphetamines.                       3

  Refer to "crack" when dealing with cocaine and "ecstasy" MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) as a derivative of amphetamines.  nicotine,

E.7.7      Discuss the behavioural effects of the inhibitory psychoactive drugs benzodiazepines, cannabis and alcohol.                    3

 Examples of benzodiazepines are Valium^™ and Temazepam^™.  benzodiazepines, 

Good Summary PowerPoint Presentation