Animal Behaviors:

If instict is physically based in the brain, and behaviors result from this brain structure, what would you hypothesis happens to the brain during learning?

Study this article carefully.

http://www.sedl.org/scimath/compass/v03n02/1.html

During learning, the brain undergoes various processes that lead to modifications in its structure and function. These changes occur through a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections and altering existing ones.

When an animal learns, it involves acquiring new information, skills, or behaviors through experience or training. This learning process typically involves the formation and strengthening of neural connections in the brain. As an animal repeatedly experiences or practices a behavior, specific neural pathways become more efficient and interconnected.

Here's how the brain changes during learning:

1. Synaptic Plasticity: Learning is believed to be associated with changes at the synapses, which are the connections between neurons. Synaptic plasticity refers to the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken in response to neural activity. Learning strengthens the connections between certain neurons, allowing for more efficient transmission of signals related to that behavior.

2. Neural Circuitry Reorganization: Learning often requires the brain to reorganize its neural circuitry. This can involve the creation of new neural pathways or the remodeling of existing ones. As animals learn, new connections are formed, and existing connections are pruned or modified to optimize the encoding and retrieval of information related to the learned behavior.

3. Neurogenesis: Learning has also been associated with the generation of new neurons in certain brain regions, particularly in the hippocampus, a structure involved in memory formation. Neurogenesis provides a means for the brain to adapt and incorporate new information by integrating newly generated neurons into existing neural networks.

4. Myelination: Myelin is a fatty substance that forms an insulating sheath around nerve fibers, facilitating faster and more efficient transmission of electrical signals. During learning, myelination of specific neural pathways can occur, enhancing the speed and accuracy of information processing related to the learned behavior.

Overall, learning involves a combination of synaptic plasticity, neural circuit reorganization, neurogenesis, and myelination. These processes collectively lead to the modification of brain structure, allowing for the acquisition and retention of new behaviors and skills.