What is innate behaviour?

Innate behaviour is inherited through the genes, so it is performed correctly the first time without having been learned and it is essentially the same in every member of the species.

Give two advantages of innate behaviour.

The animal responds correctly to food or danger from the moment it hatches or is born, and it spends no time, energy or risk in learning how to do so.

Which kinds of animal depend most heavily on innate behaviour?

Short-lived animals such as insects and animals that receive no parental care depend on it most, because they have neither the time nor the teacher needed for learning.

Give one disadvantage of innate behaviour.

It cannot be altered by experience, so an animal that meets a new situation or a changed environment may go on giving a response that no longer works.

Why does an escape reflex improve an animal's chance of survival?

The movement is completed in a fraction of a second, before the animal can be seized or injured, and it is made even by an animal that has never met the danger before.

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Biological Molecules

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Neurobiology and Behaviour: The BrainNeurobiology

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Neurobiology and Behaviour: BehaviourNeurobiology

Topic overview Innate behaviour: escape reflexes, kineses and taxes Habituation and imprinting Classical and operant conditioning Primate societies and the costs and benefits of group living Insect castes, dominance hierarchies, territory and courtship

Neurobiology and Behaviour: Behaviour

Innate behaviour: escape reflexes, kineses and taxes

3 things to know
Component 3

Overview

Innate behaviour, escape reflex and kinesis shown by woodlice in dry and in damp air.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

What is an escape reflex?

Key term

Give an example of an escape reflex in an invertebrate.

Key term

What is a taxis?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is innate behaviour?
Model answer
Innate behaviour is inherited through the genes, so it is performed correctly the first time without having been learned and it is essentially the same in every member of the species.
2
Give two advantages of innate behaviour.
Model answer
The animal responds correctly to food or danger from the moment it hatches or is born, and it spends no time, energy or risk in learning how to do so.
3
Which kinds of animal depend most heavily on innate behaviour?
Model answer
Short-lived animals such as insects and animals that receive no parental care depend on it most, because they have neither the time nor the teacher needed for learning.
4
Give one disadvantage of innate behaviour.
Model answer
It cannot be altered by experience, so an animal that meets a new situation or a changed environment may go on giving a response that no longer works.
5
What is an escape reflex?
Model answer
An escape reflex is a rapid automatic movement away from a harmful or threatening stimulus, made without any conscious decision.
6
Why does an escape reflex improve an animal's chance of survival?
Model answer
The movement is completed in a fraction of a second, before the animal can be seized or injured, and it is made even by an animal that has never met the danger before.

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