Talk:Fixed action pattern

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Examples: Create subsections on specific examples. More detailed examples are better than a larger list with little detail. Introductory section on FAPs and sign stimuli Evolutionary advantages of FAPs Criticism of the FAP concept
Priority 5

[edit] FAP = unconditioned reflex?

Isn't a fixed action pattern the same thing as an unconditioned reflex? See Classical conditioning. EPM 03:19, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

I don't think so - for example imagine a fixed action pattern like a goose rolling a displaced egg back to its nest. Now imagine you play a chime just before it sees the egg. Do you think the goose will ever try to roll an invisible egg back to the nest just because it hears a chime? If this was an 'unconditioned response' it would imply the goose could be conditioned to do such a thing, which seems fairly unlikely to me. It's possible it may learn to expect there to be a missing egg, but I very much doubt it would carry on with the pattern (remember an FAP must proceed to completion) if there was no egg to be rolled. To sum up, they are similar, but not quite the same thing. Richard001 08:14, 4 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] This is a difficult definition to clarify.

I think that the example of the stickleback changing color is not itself an example of a fixed action pattern, as this is more physiological rather than behavioral. The aggressive responses certainly are. I agree with the example of yawning in humans as a fixed action pattern, although I believe that the vestigial infant grasping is really a reflex. The final example with the copying machine is certainly not a FAP, as the actual "allowing" behavior is likely quite variable. One part of the definition of FAP which needs to be emphasized is that once the sequence begins (after the key stimulus is presented and acknowledged), the pattern must be taken to completion and is not responsive to any further stimuli or changes in the environment. One excellent example of this is how hummingbirds will continue to build a nest with complex weaving movements, even if the thread with which they were intending to weave is stolen and they are really weaving nothing together. Also should be mentioned are supernormal stimuli which can provoke an even stronger response than the natural stimuli; e.g. N. Tinbergen's study of oystercatcher nesting -- they prefer the supernormal 5 egg nest to the normal 3. Socially relevant human examples of this are lipstick (supernormal female lips) and shoulder pads (supernormal male shoulders).

64.145.175.190 05:26, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

The stickleback example is given in at least one textbook, though it's not really behavioral in the sense of neurons making muscles move. We need a citation for the definition though. Richard001 20:50, 31 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Species typical behaviour?

I'm confused, is this the same as a species typical behaviour? Or is the right place for that typical? Is it such a rare phrase that it doesn't even pop up on Wikipedia? Jack (talk) 22:47, 17 January 2008 (UTC)