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Two Innate Releasing Mechanisms subserving the Same Motor Pattern System

Nature volume 225, pages 750–751 (1970)Cite this article

Abstract

ANIMALS respond to an external stimulus situation with the biologically appropriate motor pattern. The response is triggered by a filter system which is called here an innate releasing mechanism (IRM)1,2 if it functions independently of any experience with the appropriate stimulus situation. The mobbing response of breeding pied flycatchers (Ficedula h. hypoleuca) to owls and shrikes is highly stimulus specific; moreover, it is independent of individual experience with these predators (ref. 3, and our unpublished results). The question, then, is whether these two predators are recognized by means of two different IRMs (first hypothesis), or whether a more general IRM is used (second hypothesis).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arbeitsgruppe für Verhaltensforschung, Abteilung für Biologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 463, Bochum

    E. CURIO & R. BLAICH

  2. Zoologisches Institut der Universität, 75, Karlsruhe

    N. RIEDER

Authors
  1. E. CURIO
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  2. R. BLAICH
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  3. N. RIEDER
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CURIO, E., BLAICH, R. & RIEDER, N. Two Innate Releasing Mechanisms subserving the Same Motor Pattern System. Nature 225, 750–751 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1038/225750a0

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