Akins, Chana IBN-9511656 Abstract Reproductive behavior is central to the evolutionary biology of organisms, and learning experiences have been shown to influence various aspects of reproductive behavior. One learning mechanism that animals use to predict biologically significant events is Pavlovian conditioning. For example, an animal may learn, via Pavlovian conditioning, to predict food, an encounter with a predator, or access to a potential mate. The anticipatory conditioned responses that animals make may enable them to optimize their interaction with a subsequently presented biologically significant event (an unconditioned stimulus or US). Conditioned stimuli paired with US's such as food, water, and mating opportunity come to elicit orienting, approach and search responses. Obtaining food, water or a reproductive opportunity can be a long complicated process involving a sequence of many different behavior patterns. For example, under certain conditions, the mating behavior of male quail may be similar to general search behavior, characterized by increased locomotor activity. Other conditions may evoke more direct approach behavior to cues that signal a mating opportunity. Dr. Akins' research will provide information about the circumstances that evoke various conditioned responses and about the mechanisms of those responses in reproductive behavior systems. Furthermore, the results of this investigation will contribute to our knowledge of the generality of learning processes in social behavior and the importance of predictability in social situations.
