Fixed Action Pattern

A Fixed Action Pattern is an ethological term describing an instinctive behavioral sequence that is highly stereotyped and species-characteristic. ^[1] Fixed action patterns are said to be produced by the innate releasing mechanism, a "hard-wired" neural network, in response to a sign stimulus or releaser. ^[1] ^[2] Once released, a fixed action pattern runs to completion. ^[1]

This term is often associated with Konrad Lorenz who is one of the founders. ^[1] Lorenz identified six characteristics of fixed action patterns. ^[3] These characteristics state that fixed action patterns are stereotyped, complex, species-characteristic, released, triggered, and independent of experience. ^[3]

Fixed action patterns have been observed most notably in insects, fish, and birds. ^[1]^[2]

Sign Stimulus vs. Releaser

Examples

Male Stickleback Mating Behavior

Egg-Retrieval Behavior

Significance

Exploitation

Evolutionary Advantages

Criticism

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Páez-Rondón, Oscar; Aldana, Elis; Dickens, Joseph; Otálora-Luna, Fernando (2018-5). "Ethological description of a fixed action pattern in a kissing bug (Triatominae): vision, gustation, proboscis extension and drinking of water and guava". Journal of Ethology. 36 (2): 107–116. doi:10.1007/s10164-018-0547-y. ISSN 0289-0771. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
^ ^a ^b Ronacher, Bernhard (2019-2). "Innate releasing mechanisms and fixed action patterns: basic ethological concepts as drivers for neuroethological studies on acoustic communication in Orthoptera". Journal of Comparative Physiology A. 205 (1): 33–50. doi:10.1007/s00359-018-01311-3. ISSN 0340-7594. PMC 6394777. PMID 30617601. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: PMC format (link)
^ ^a ^b Studying animal behavior : autobiographies of the founders. Dewsbury, Donald A., 1939-. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 1989, ©1985. ISBN 0226144100. OCLC 19670401. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: others (link)

[:0-1] Páez-Rondón, Oscar; Aldana, Elis; Dickens, Joseph; Otálora-Luna, Fernando (2018-5). "Ethological description of a fixed action pattern in a kissing bug (Triatominae): vision, gustation, proboscis extension and drinking of water and guava". Journal of Ethology. 36 (2): 107–116. doi:10.1007/s10164-018-0547-y. ISSN 0289-0771. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[:1-2] Ronacher, Bernhard (2019-2). "Innate releasing mechanisms and fixed action patterns: basic ethological concepts as drivers for neuroethological studies on acoustic communication in Orthoptera". Journal of Comparative Physiology A. 205 (1): 33–50. doi:10.1007/s00359-018-01311-3. ISSN 0340-7594. PMC 6394777. PMID 30617601. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: PMC format (link)

[:2-3] Studying animal behavior : autobiographies of the founders. Dewsbury, Donald A., 1939-. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 1989, ©1985. ISBN 0226144100. OCLC 19670401. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: others (link)

[1]

[2]

[3]