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EC301 - Assignment 2

1. The document describes an innate releasing mechanism (IRM), which is a neural mechanism that enables animals to recognize biologically relevant stimuli and release a fixed motor response. 2. The IRM integrates qualitatively different sign stimuli that can replace each other quantitatively to release a fixed action pattern response. 3. An experiment on grayling butterflies showed that the IRM integrated different visual aspects of butterfly models, and evoked approach behavior if the IRM neuron fired action potentials.

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108 views4 pages

EC301 - Assignment 2

1. The document describes an innate releasing mechanism (IRM), which is a neural mechanism that enables animals to recognize biologically relevant stimuli and release a fixed motor response. 2. The IRM integrates qualitatively different sign stimuli that can replace each other quantitatively to release a fixed action pattern response. 3. An experiment on grayling butterflies showed that the IRM integrated different visual aspects of butterfly models, and evoked approach behavior if the IRM neuron fired action potentials.

Uploaded by

ab1699
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THE INNATE RELEASING MECHANISM

An innate, selective, afferent neural mechanism that enables an animal to


“recognise” a specific set of stimuli (sign stimuli) defining a biologically
relevant situation that releases a motor response, typically a fixed action pattern.

INNATE RELEASING MECHANISM

SIGN STIMULI FIXED ACTION PATTERN

NEURAL PROCESSING

EXTERNAL STIMULI RESPONSE


LAW OF HETEROGENEOUS SUMMATION OR
ADDITIVITY OF SIGN STIMULI

The effects of qualitatively different sign


stimuli
add together in the nervous system in a purely
quantitative fashion and can replace each other
quantitatively. (Alfred Seitz, 1940)
RESULTS OF THE GRAYLING BUTTERFLY EXPERIMENT

1
Butterfly Model Features

W = White
B = Black
2
U = Undulating Flight
NU = Non-undulating flight

Size = Size of model

Response = Proportion of
3 positive approach
responses of male
butterflies to models
presented in the field
ASSIGNMENT 2

Imagine that the Innate Releasing Mechanism (IRM) of the male butterfly is a single neuron that integrates
the different aspects of the visual stimulus (butterfly model). If the neuron fires action potentials, then the
approach behaviour is evoked, otherwise not.

Examine the three graphs (labelled 1, 2 and 3) representing three sets of possible outcomes of the behavioural experiment.
Create three variants of a neuronal model that could in principle explain the three behavioural outcomes depicted.
Note that your essential circuit should remain the same: multiple inputs on to one IRM integrator neuron that
will drive the behaviour if it fires.

Make a representative neuronal diagram depicting the model for each of the behavioural outcomes and explain each option in words
(how it can explain the behavioural outcome depicted in the graph).

You can choose to do this qualitatively or quantitatively, but there must be a clear textual explanation of each of the models.

Your answer should not exceed two pages, and should be precise and concise, and should be uploaded as an editable
Word document with your name and assignment number in the file name.

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