Innate Animal Behavior Is the Internalized Congenital

Innate animal behavior is the internalized congenital system adapted for the facilitation of survival and reproduction. It is a basic element of ethology. The receptor capability of studying this behavior is due to simplified nervous systems among invertebrates. This ethological research through vision is referred to as overt animal behavior. This animal behavior can be categorized into three major classifications; innate, learned or complex. Learned animal behavior is the possession of behavioral characteristics through experience. This context discusses innate and complex animal behaviors in detail.

Simple Behaviors Reflexes Reflexes can be referred to as an automatic instinctive unlearned reaction to a stimulus. They are responses triggered by disturbances in the environment surrounding an organism. The basic unit in connection to innate behavior is the simple reflex arc. The behavior is a neural alleyway that involves few neurons in most cases two neurons, which are the sensory and the motor neurons. The work of the sensory neuron is to detect the stimulus in which the motor neuron sets off response.

The motor neurons are located in the effector cell which can be a gland cell or a muscle. Reflex arcs include an association neuron that is located between the motor and the sensory neurons. The function of the association neuron is to synapse with other neurons and relay information to the brain. There are two types of reflexes. These are the simple startle reflexes and the comprehensive escape reflexes. The simple startle reflexes are triggered by huge disturbances while comprehensive escape reflexes are triggered by minimal disturbances.

Insects are known to have both the reflexes. Kinesis Kinesis is defined as an alteration in the turning rate (klinokinesis) or an alteration in speed of motion (orthokinesis) which is comparative to the force of the stimulus. It only requires the input of one sensory receptor. Kinesis is a change that is inverse oriented. The change in rate or speed increases the chances of finding the stimulus but in the same way does not guarantee it. Taxis Taxis are direct movements away from or towards a stimulus.

In taxis, the intensity of the stimulus increases with motion of the organism towards the respective source of the stimulus and in turn decreases with motion of the organism away from the stimulus source. In most cases, a prefix is used to describe the stimulus that triggers the movement of the organism depending on the cause of the movement. Phototaxis is the movement towards the light (prefix-photo) and geotaxis a movement towards gravity (prefix-geo). Complex Innate Behavior This behavioral characteristic is acquired through learning.

Complex innate behavior can be modified through experience or practice. A good example of complex innate behavior is the ability to fly. Older insects can fly more efficiently without using a lot of energy as compared to young insect. The ability to fly in insects like locusts may be perfected and refined through experience. Complex innate behavior involves the capability to learn, remember and associate. Personal Perception Complex and simple behaviors result from the interplay between pre-birth and post-birth evolution, gene expression, and environmental contribution through its influential nature.

The behaviors are not restricted to sensory experience. Behavioral attributes fall under nurture.