Fixed action pattern: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:34, 5 May 2007

Revision as of 10:11, 5 May 2007

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Yet another ecological example is where a [[water fowl]]s, such as a goose, will move an [[egg]] near its nest back into its nest if when it has rolled away somehow. The sight of the displaced egg triggers a this mechanism. However, it will also attempt to move other egg shaped objects, such as a golf ball, door knob, or even a volleyball back to the nest.

Although fixed action patterns are most common in animals with simpler cognitive capabilities, humans also demonstrate fixed action patterns. For example, infants grasp strongly with their hands as a response to tactile stimulus. This is thought to be a [[vestigial|vestigial mechanism]] where when threatened by a predator a young primate would grab on to a parent's fur so the parent could climb to safety without having to hold its child{{factFact|date=May 2007}} (see also [[reflex action]]). Another FAP shared by some animals, including humans, is [[yawning]], which often triggers yawning in other individuals.

==See also==