Behavioral programming
The behavior of an organism is never chaotic: it is always based on programming the properties of the result needed at the current moment and selecting the optimal means to achieve it. This programming is a leading property of brain structures.
Depending on the stability of environmental conditions, two types of programming are distinguished:
- Rigid (hereditary). Characteristic of conditions that remain unchanged over many generations. The transmission mechanism is genetic (e.g., instinctive animal behavior).
- Flexible (dynamic). Activated in a constantly changing environment. It relies on learning, individual memory mechanisms, and the influence of external factors.
Structure of a behavioral act (according to P.K. Anokhin)
According to the theory of functional systems, the realization of behavior is not an isolated process, but a closed regulatory cycle. Any complex behavioral act includes several mandatory stages:
- Afferent synthesis (AS). This is the stage of information gathering and processing. The central nervous system integrates dominant motivation (need), memory data, situational afferentation, and the triggering stimulus.
- Decision making and program formation. Based on synthesis, the brain forms a plan of action.
- Action result acceptor (ARA). This is a crucial apparatus where an ideal model of the expected future result is created. It is precisely here that it is "recorded" what the action should lead to.
- Action and achievement of the result. The organism begins executing the program, achieving intermediate (R1, R2, R3) and then the final (Rk) result.
- Feedback afferentation. Information about each actually achieved step returns to the brain and is compared with the model in the ARA. If the real result matches the forecast, the system proceeds to the next stage. If not, the behavior is corrected.
Behavioral continuum and system quanta
The vital activity of an organism is not a set of disjointed reactions, but a continuous behavioral continuum. The achievement of one intermediate result does not terminate the process, but serves as a condition or stimulus for the start of the next stage.
The unit of such systemic activity is the system quantum of behavior — the complete cycle from the moment a specific need arises to the moment of its complete satisfaction. Our entire life consists of such self-regulating units, which can be innate or acquired during individual development.
Three types of system quantization are distinguished:
- Sequential. A chain of actions where the satisfaction of one need immediately leads to the formation of the next one (e.g., step-by-step execution of work operations, speech generation).
- Hierarchical. Directed at satisfying a main (leading) need that is significantly delayed in time. To reach the end, the organism must first fulfill a number of intermediate, instrumental needs (e.g., to eat, one must first find food, buy it, and cook it).
- Mixed. A combination of hierarchical and sequential types, covering almost the entire human life, including thinking, sleep, and wakefulness.
Learning dynamics and self-regulation
Behavior is always directed from a need to its satisfaction. If an obstacle arises in the path, the organism triggers an exploratory-investigatory reaction to restructure its tactics or switches to achieving another, more biologically significant goal.
During learning, new behavioral acts are formed (systemogenesis). An untrained organism has only the stage of afferent synthesis and the nucleus of a program. Through trial and error, the first intermediate results are achieved. Thanks to feedback afferentation, they are evaluated with a plus (success) or minus (failure) sign. Successful links are reinforced, the ARA is enriched with new information, and eventually a complete, error-free chain of actions of the trained organism is formed.
Briefly: answers to topical questions
Which brain structures are responsible for forming dominant motivation during afferent synthesis?
The formation of dominant motivation during afferent synthesis is carried out by subcortical structures, predominantly the hypothalamus. Hypothalamic centers play a leading, pacemaker role in this process. From there, a focus of motivational excitation is formed, which exerts a generalized ascending activating influence all the way to the cerebral cortex, creating a state of pre-tuning in cortical neurons.
How is the action result acceptor formed at the neuronal level?
At the neuronal level, the action result acceptor is formed through the transmission of excitation via collaterals to a group of interneurons. This process occurs simultaneously with the transmission of the efferent command to effector organs. As a result of emerging cyclical interactions within this group of interneurons, a functional anticipation apparatus—a model of the expected result—is created.
Through which neural pathways is feedback afferentation about the achieved result transmitted?
Feedback afferentation about the achieved result enters the CNS as resultant afferentation: it is always complex and formed by streams from photoreceptors, tactile, gustatory, auditory, and other receptors. It is subdivided into stage-by-stage afferentation (controlling intermediate actions) and sanctioning afferentation (arising upon reaching the final required result). During a motor act, directing afferentation is also distinguished, predominantly from muscle proprioceptors, which regulates the execution of movement.
Class and exam questions
What is an action result acceptor?
This is the central programming apparatus in the brain that anticipates the properties of the future useful result and uses feedback to evaluate whether the real result matches the expected one.
When is a behavioral act considered fully completed?
A behavioral act concludes exclusively at the moment of achieving a useful adaptive result that fully satisfies the initial need (relieves the dominant motivation).
What happens if the real result does not match the forecast in the ARA?
A mismatch occurs, which triggers an exploratory-investigatory reaction. Afferent synthesis is restructured, and the organism forms new behavioral tactics to overcome the obstacle.
What is the difference between sequential and hierarchical quantization?
In sequential quantization, needs are satisfied one after another linearly. In hierarchical quantization, there is a single global goal delayed in time, for the sake of which the organism must first satisfy numerous minor intermediate needs (subgoals).
What else to study on this topic
- Stages of afferent synthesis (motivation, memory, setting, triggering stimulus)
- Types of afferentation (situational, triggering, feedback)
- Mechanisms of motivation formation
- P.K. Anokhin's theory of functional systems (general provisions)
- Systemogenesis and neurophysiological bases of learning
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