This page discusses how organism behavior is influenced by both innate and learned responses to stimuli. It describes innate behaviors such as taxes and reflexes, and learned behaviors developed throu...This page discusses how organism behavior is influenced by both innate and learned responses to stimuli. It describes innate behaviors such as taxes and reflexes, and learned behaviors developed through experience. Genetic factors also play a role, as seen in the behavior of Drosophila larvae and honeybees.
Innate behavior is behavior determined by the "hard-wiring" of the nervous system. It is usually inflexible, a given stimulus triggering a given response. A salamander raised away from water until lon...Innate behavior is behavior determined by the "hard-wiring" of the nervous system. It is usually inflexible, a given stimulus triggering a given response. A salamander raised away from water until long after its siblings begin swimming successfully will swim every bit as well as they the very first time it is placed in the water. Clearly this rather elaborate response is "built in" in the species and not something that must be acquired by practice.
