PSYC 205 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Lateral Hypothalamus, Neural Pathway, Longrun
28 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
Choice- the outcome of that process- a motor action or verbal response that indicates selection of an option. Humans believe that their actions are completely volitional- we have complete control over our own choices. However free will invokes some metaphysical component: brain activity related to behavioural choice occurs prior to conscious awareness of the choice. Organisms forage in a way that maximizes net energy gain per unit of time. Idea that decision-making evolved to maximize fitness is usually examined in terms of foraging- the amount of energy acquired during food consumption is offset by the energy expended to obtain it. Limit- decision-making during foraging is affected by predation- animals are more vulnerable when they leave security of home to find food: foraging rates decrease if predator near- counters optimal foraging theory. Net energy gain is associated with fitness- in order for foraging efficiency to be favoured during natural selection, it must be associated with higher reproductive success.
