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1. Defense and the Conditional Reflex
Page 1
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2. Flight, Locomotion and Image Memory
Page 2
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3. Olfactory Familiarity and Imprinting
Page 3
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Neophobia and Object Memory
Page 4
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Learning of "Wildness"
Page 5
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Habituation to Handling
Page 6
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Learning of Visually-Released Boxing
Page 7
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Conclusion
Page 8
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Bibliography
Page 10
Introduction
Much of the social behavior of muroid rodents such as the mouse, rat, gerbil, and hamster, is determined by an inborn, hard-wired, genetically programmed schema of behavior. The basic outlines of this schema have been presented in a series of papers based on behavioral sequences [2, 3, 36] brain lesion studies [22] and single unit recording [1, 45]. The schema presented in Figure 1, consists of two motivational systems, offense and defense. At the heart of the motivational systems are three motivational mechanisms (offense, defense, and the conspecific defense modulator) which are activated by sensory filters which are tuned to specific motivating stimuli [Note added later: in later years, the conspecific defense modulator was considered to represent a third motivational system of submission]. Motor patterning mechanisms which produce the actual responses of the individual, require an activating input from at least one of these motivational mechanisms, and, in many cases, a simultaneous input from sensory filters which are tuned to specific releasing or directing stimuli. Further details may be found in Lehman and Adams [36].
Certain important aspects of the motivational systems of offense and defense are not inborn and hard-wired, but are acquired and conditioned during the course of the lifetime of the individual. We may divide them into two categories: (1) Hormonally mediated shifts in the social strategy of the individual; and (2) Neural changes in the strength and quality of the motivating and directing stimuli which depend upon individual experience and memory of that experience. The first category, hormonally-mediated shifts, is considered in a second paper which is being prepared for publication. The second category is considered in this paper.
After an extensive review of the literature on offense and defense behaviors of muroid rodents, I have been able to identify seven points in the motivational systems of offense and defense where neural changes occur during the course of individual experience. They are shown in Figure 1. Several of these, conditional reflexes and image memory, have been extensively investigated by previous investigators. Others have yet to receive sufficient scientific attention, and I hope that by pointing them out at this conference, I may help stimulate further research on them.
The address of this page is http://www.culture-of-peace.info/memory/title page.html.
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