The Ontogeny of Vertebrate Behavior

The Ontogeny of Vertebrate Behavior is a collection of articles focused on the comparative psychology researches. The text is devoted to the development of vertebrate behavior, emphasizes the ontogenetic determinants, and answers questions related to the differentiation of selected response systems.

The book is organized into 10 chapters that feature the concepts of vertebrate behavior and its ontogeny. It presents the study of behavioral development, as well as the visual perceptual systems and its evolution. It explains the perceptual abilities of the human infant and the early experience and problem-solving behavior. Cerebral effects of environmental manipulation and the behavioral phenomena are explained. The book also talks about the ontogeny of emotional, play, and exploratory behaviors; of sexuality and maternal behavior; and of mother-infant relations. It also discusses the principle and procedure of imprinting. Finally, it explains the vocal learning of avian species and the ontogeny of language, as well as the vocal abnormalities.
This text will be invaluable to the students, novices, and professionals in psychology, ethology, endocrinology, and behavioral and developmental biology.

Contenu

List of Contributors
Preface
Chapter 1. The Study of Behavioral Development
I. Aspects of Individual Development
II. Aspects of Social Development
III. Conclusion
References
Chapter 2. The Development of Visual Perceptual Systems
I. Setting the Problem
II. Major Conceptual Alternatives
III. The Evolution of Perceptual Systems
IV. Perceptual Abilities of the Human Infant
V. Conclusion
References
Chapter 3. Early Experience and Problem-Solving Behavior
I. Introduction
II. Critical Experiential Factors
III. Cerebral Effects of Environmental Manipulation
IV. Explanatory Suggestions
V. Conclusions
References
Chapter 4. The Ontogeny of Emotional Behavior
I. Problems of Experimental Design and Interpretation
II. Major Areas of Investigation
III. An Ontogenetic Model
IV. Sources
References
Chapter 5. Ontogeny of Play and Exploratory Behaviors: A Definition of Problems and a Search for New Conceptual Solutions
I. Introduction
II. Current Status of Concepts Pertaining to Exploration and Play
III. Definitions of Exploration and Play and Problems of Behavioral Conceptualization
IV. Behavioral Phenomena
V. Ontogeny of Play and Exploration within the Total Overt Behavioral Repertoire
VI. Neurobiological Phenomena: Ontogeny of Structures and Functions
VII. A Natural Classification of Behavioral and Neurobiological Phenomena
VIII. Conclusion
References
Chapter 6. The Ontogeny of Sexuality
I. Introduction
II. Genes and Sexual Behavior
III. Hormones and the Development of Sexual Behavior
IV. The Nature of Sexual Differentiation
V. Experience and the Development of Sexual Behavior
VI. Summary
References
Chapter 7. The Ontogeny of Maternal Behavior in Some Selected Mammalian Species
I. The Rat
II. The Rabbit
III. The Golden Hamster
IV. The Mouse
References
Chapter 8. The Ontogeny of Mother-Infant Relations in Macaques
I. Introduction
II. The Onset of Maternal Behavior
III. Mother-Infant Interactions
IV. Maternal Rejection and Infant Attachment
References
Chapter 9. Imprinting
I. Introduction
II. Imprinting Procedure
III. Activities Connected with Imprinting
IV. Factors Affecting Responsiveness
V. Consequences of Imprinting
VI. The Nature of the Process
VII. Conclusion
References
Chapter 10. Vocal Learning In Birds
I. Introduction
II. The Nature of Avian Vocal Behavior
III. Methods of Study and Experimentation
IV. Evidence of Learning from Observational Studies
V. Vocal Abnormalities in Social Isolates
VI. Selective Learning of Conspecific versus Alien Song by Social Isolates
VII. Mechanisms in Song Learning
VIII. Genetic Contributions to Song Development
IX. Improvisation as a Factor in Vocal Development
X. Discussion and Summary
References
Chapter 11. The Ontogeny of Language
Text
References
Author Index
Subject Index