Withdrawal reflex and habituation in the garden snail Essay

Withdrawal reflex and habituation in the garden snail - Essay Example There is many types of learning, the most basic form of which is non-associative learning. Surprisingly noticed even in primitive life forms, such as the protozoan Stentor coeruleus, it represents a type of learning where the organism becomes aware that some events are unrelated and irrelevant. The most common example of such learning is habituation. According to Thompson and Spencer, it is defined simply as "the gradual waning of an evoked behavioral response with repeated stimulation."3. In essence if an animal first responds to a stimulus that is neither rewarding nor harmful the animal reduces subsequent responses. There are two basic characteristics that separate habituation from the other types of learning. One is that it does not require conscious motivation or awareness to occur, and that it is stimulus specific and that does not cause a cause a general decline in responsiveness.The garden snail (Helix aspersa) is no exception when the process of habituation is concerned. Hab ituation in the Helix aspersa is well documented and easily observable, particularly in the withdrawal reflex of both the entire body of the garden snail, as well as the eye stalk. When the body or the eye stalk of the garden snail is stimulated, the Helix aspresa instinctively withdraws the entire body towards its shell or the eye stalk towards the body, respectively. This very simple and instinctive action, with the purpose of maintaining the structural integrity of the body of the garden snail, represents the withdrawal reflex in the Helix aspresa. ... When the garden snail is presented with a novel stimulus, the sensory neurons generate large excitatory postsynaptic potentials in the interneurons and motor cells. These potentials cause the motor cells to discharge strongly, leading to the rapid withdrawal of the body or eye stalk. As the stimulus is repeatedly presented, the synaptic potentials produced by the sensory neurons in the interneurons and in the motor cells become progressively smaller. In time, fewer action potentials are generated in the motor cells, and the behavior is reduced. Finally, the postsynaptic potentials become very small and fail to produce action potentials in the motor neurons, and therefore no behavior is produced. The reduction in the effectiveness of the synaptic connections between the sensory and motor neurons is what maintains the state of habituation that the garden snail has acquired. - Background Although the effects of the withdrawal reflex and the subsequent habituation are easily observable, the underlying principles have been scrutinized by the scientific eye. There are many scientific papers that deal with this issue. One of them, written by Steven Prescott and Ronald Chase explains the sites of plasticity in the neural circuit mediating tentacle withdrawal in the garden snail. With their research, they have managed to show that the different parts of the nervous system in the snail mediate different reactions when the withdrawal reflex is concerned. In an another paper, the same others try to explore the matter even further, with analyzing the neural circuit mediating tentacle withdrawal in garden snail, with specific reference to the competence of the

Operation management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Operation management - Essay Example At this point, it is good to elaborate some combined leadership and management activities in an operation, such as choosing a job design and work measurement. Managing people is an operation concept that is required to be established in every organization aimed at achieving competitive advantage, especially in today’s tough competition in industry. Apple Incorporated has successfully created its market share not just because of considering other important operational moves, marketing initiatives, good financial performance, but most primarily on how it handles its human resource particularly on managing people. Apple is not only good at creating innovative products for its product differentiation strategy, but also at its ability to managing or leading people, with close details on setting tasks, responsibilities, work performance, work conditions and general skills. Based on the research paper done about Apple, being good at its management function activity, the Apple Incorpo rated in its actual practice always integrates its initiatives to consider people skills and their ability to create highly innovative products. ... has given the job description especially in the product research and manufacturing department to create a significant product design that must be something new in the market. At this point, it should not be impossible for Apple to establish a promising market for smartphones and other products, as it strongly believes the potential of its human resource to formulate the finest products in its industry. This is due to the fact that the company is not only good at creating needs for its offerings; it also ensures that the job description of its human resource fits to its actual strategy of product differentiation. Now, it is, therefore, important that Apple must have substantially managed how it sets tasks for its human resource. Setting tasks requires careful implementation of systematic process of achieving immediate goals and objectives. After all, this should have high link with certain level of responsibilities. On the other hand, considering the fact that Apple wants to lead in i ts industry, implementing a high quality performance within its human resource is not just an obligation that everyone must come to realize, but an actual requirement for the company’s competitive edge. Now that everyone at Apple has specialized skills, the more the human resource will obtain a high opportunity for increase productivity, as the company continues to look forward to advance in the market by creating a need for its new innovative product offerings. Finally, setting tasks, responsibilities, work performances, work conditions and others are not just the actual activities Apple Incorporated must initiate. Another important function that it must establish under its ability to cope with change and complexities is the actual work measurement. As a company trying to lead in its

Human Rights in International Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human Rights in International Law - Essay Example Other than these methods, other international human rights instruments also exist that are not legally binding but have an effect on the implementation, understanding and development of international human rights laws. These sources of law have been recognised to have a political obligation1. International human rights laws are enforceable on the domestic, regional and international levels. Any states that are involved in human rights treaties undertake a voluntary obligation to respect the rights recognised in the respective treaties. Furthermore, it is the duty of the state to ensure compliance of domestic laws with the conditions laid down in treaties so that domestic and international law is compatible. Although the primary mechanism of human rights protection and the ensuing legal framework are mostly domestic in nature but the bereaved party may resort to regional or international legal mechanisms to redress concerns. Alternatively, regional or international legal mechanisms ma y enforce themselves on domestic situations in order to deal with human rights abuses. Human rights are protected internationally through the use of two parallel legal mechanisms namely the international human rights laws and the international humanitarian laws. ... For general cases, human rights are taken to regulate the relationship existing between individuals and the state within the context of an ordinary life. In contrast, humanitarian laws are taken to regulate the relationship between a belligerent state and any parties it comes into contact with. These parties could be hostile or neutral when seen in the context of an armed conflict2. This paper will concern itself with the implementation of human rights laws alone on the domestic, regional and international levels. 2. International Law on Human Rights In the post World War Two scenario, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the watershed of international human rights law. The United Nations General Assembly adopted this declaration in 1948 and can be seen as a reaction to the experiences of the Second World War. In itself, this declaration is the first global expression of rights that all human beings are entitled to3. The importance of this declaration stems from the fact that its articles have been used subsequently in international treaties, national constitutions, domestic laws and regional human rights instruments. The declaration is not a treaty in itself but has been adopted explicitly in order to define the words â€Å"human rights† and â€Å"fundamental freedoms† that are listed in the United Nations Charter. In turn, the United Nations Charter is binding on all member states and so the Universal Declaration on Human Rights is a fundamental constitutive document for the United Nations. A large body of international lawyers holds that the Declaration is part of customary international law. This position implies that the Declaration is an

Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 55

Philosophy - Essay Example How ought it be conducted? Provide a clear argument answering this question. Refer to at least five philosophers we have studied in the course of your answer. In your answer, be sure to demonstrate knowledge of the material by explaining ideas and using specific support and please use only this material Required Philosophy exists in different branches of thoughts that address different philosophical area of focus. Some of the branches and their areas of focus in include the following, epistemology this is the study of nature and knowledge (Lawhead). Epistemology expresses the relationship between beliefs, truth and theories that justify such beliefs and truth. The other area of concern is the metaphysics, this involves the study of aspects of reality and illustration of these features includes existence (Lawhead). Ethics include the other branch involved in study of philosophy addressing thing that people have to do and how they should to them. The final branch of philosophy include the logics, this involves precise reasoning to determine the components of good and bad reasoning in addition to determining the effectiveness of reasoning. Ethics as an essential branch of philosophy that is important in improving human life, thus it has a major principal of influencing human well-being in their world. Aristotle was an influential individual in the establishment of ethical concern as guidance in the human relation. Aristotle in support of Plato’s ideas regards some virtues as being ethical, for instance, these virtues include the following, temperance courage and justice (Bhaskar 120). According to Aristotle, there are things that an individual need to possess for them to live a happy life, they include virtue, pleasure, honour friendship and wealth (Das 82). Accusations of these things have to be in a morally decent way that does not conflict with the virtues of the society. For effective coexistence, it is also

Business Ethics vs. Success in Modern Business Paper 2 Research

Business Ethics vs. Success in Modern Business 2 - Research Paper Example Ethics in business is a descriptive as well as a normative field. Nevertheless, researchers exploring matters related to the business and ethics are always concerned about one issue. While studying the business and ethics, to what extent are the just and the unjust attitudes in the business are explored? (Tseng et al., 2010). Good ethics is not necessarily good business. The contemporary firms in the USA and the UK are quite worried about their image in the corporate world and the way they are talked about by the people. It is because of this concern that a vast majority of the current economic scandals that are either linked with the corrupt behaviors or the illegal actions have conventionally ruined the public image and thus the value of the firms involved. Nevertheless, more needs to be done in order to make the contemporary firms refrain from the fraud than just forming new laws and regulations. Employees need to make themselves completely aware of the potential ways in which their firms’ image and future can be ruined by the influence of corruption. It is not compulsory that corruption exists in every department of a particular firm. Enron provides a good example for that. Enron’s management was involved in corrupt activities but Enron’s employees always criticized the managersà ¢â‚¬â„¢ activities and condemned them. The real problem commenced after everybody had given up trying to identify a solid definition of the values (Wieland, 2010). The workers’ association with the firm would definitely improve with the positive energy that is generated by having a suitable space for the functioning of the firm. The improved loyalty would reflect in the increased productivity of the workers. When a firm is caught in the acts of corruption, there needs to be done something in order to safeguard the reputation and hence the future of the firm. There are businessmen that tend to

Rulers That Followed the Prince by Machiavelli Essay Example for Free

Rulers That Followed the Prince by Machiavelli Essay Niccolà ² Machiavelli suggested in The Prince that a ruler should behave as both a fox and a lion, being both loved and feared. There are clever rulers who were strategic, courageous rulers who were effective, and successful rulers who possessed both qualities. Elizabeth I of England and Henery IV of France were two great rulers from Europe that were able to personify Machiavellis advice. Elizabeth I of England was able to act as a fox by preventing England from being torn apart over matters of religion. By repealing The Catholic Legislation of Mary Tudors reign, she was able to make the New Act of Supremacy which dsignated her as the supreme govenor of spritual and temporal affairs. Also she restored the church service of the Book of Common Prayer, but was clever enough to make some revisions to make it more acceptable for Catholics. With keeping her subjects out conflict, she also made sure that her power within England remained preserved. She didnt marry anyone, because if she did, the real power would then belong to the king. Maintaining her power outside England ment keeping Spain under control. The Sea Beggars were an international group of anti-Spain pirates. Elizabeth made a secret alliance with the Sea Beggars, and sent them to the Netherlands to fight the Spainish. To make sure she was exempt from international problems because of her tie with the Sea Beggars, she immediately diassociated England from the doings of the Sea Begggars. With doing clever and sniky things to maintain Englands power, she added courageous things to her list of accomplishements. One of her greatest challenges was her cousin, Queen Mary of Scots. Being that she was next in line to the English throne, Mary was a huge threath to Elizabeths power. After fleeing from Scotland to England, she was put under house arrest by Elizabeth. In 1587, Mary was finally excuted after being caught in a plot to over throw Elizabeth. This direct action kept Elizabeth out of threat within England. But the execution of Mary, sparked a Spanish Armada invasion in England. Under the guidances of Elizabeth, the swift English ships were able to batter out Spanish and be victorious. Elizabeth showed much leadership and strength in defeating the Spanish. She heeded Machiavellis advice and was able to drive England towards a prosporous Golden Age of wealth and power. Henry IV of France was able to act as a fox by evaluating what mattered more to him. When Henry converted to Catholosism out of being a Hugenot during the Saint Bartholomews Day Massacre, it was clear that he valued his own life over religion. Even when he coverted back to Calvinism afterwards, he soon relized his valued of being in power over religion would cause him to convert, once again, back into Catholism. â€Å"Paris is worth a Mass, he said as he gave into the Roman Catholic Church for the leadership of France. This value of state over religion made him a politique, believing that no religious truth was worth the ravages of cicil war. He kept France from futher civil war by issuing the Edict of Nantes which acknowledged Catholicism as th official religion of France but guaranteed the Hugenots the rights to worship. He was wise to recognize that tolerance can help establish peace in his nation and also to convert to Cathalosism because of their bigger population in France. Along with being able to weigh out which decisions would help maintain a peaceful France, he was also able to roll in more power for himself. Appionting The Duke of Sully as his finance minister was a major step in gaining power and wealth. Sully reformed the tax collection system to make it more equitable and efficient, improved transportation, stimulated trade and industry, and fostered prosperity. These economic improvment gave Henry power. With his power under stable condition, Henry looked to forgien affairs. Henry saw the Religious Wars as an opportunity to divide up the Holy Roman Empire so he attacked, but since he was a politique he battled over politics and not religion. Though he instilled fear in his subject, he was able to gain the popularity of people because of his informal dress and a strong wit and charm. He had many things to take care of in and out of France, however, he took this bold move because knew his power would remain if people liked him. By Elizabeths creation of the Act of Supremacy and Act of Uniformity, her refusal of marriage, her secret alliance with the Sea Beggars, her execution of Mary, and her victory over the Spanish Armada, she was able to bring England to a Golden Age. By Henrys adoption of the Edict of Nantes, appointing of The Duke of Sully, munipilzing the Religious Wars to his needs, and being friendly with his subjects, Henry was able to secure France as a power in Europe. By following the advice of Machiavelli, Elizabeth I of England and Henry IV of France were able to strengthen their countries, with Elizabeth being a little better at it than Henry.

Puritan View: God And Human Nature

Puritan View: God And Human Nature History is cyclical. That is the simple nature of it. There are always old ideas, traditional views of the way the world works that have been in place for a long time that are supplanted by new, radical ideas. These new ideas stay in place and become tradition until they are replaced by newer ideas and so on and so forth. That is the way of history and it is no different in the history of America. New England was born with the Puritan view of God and human nature and it stuck with that view for over a hundred years. Into this Puritan society, into a Puritan family, Benjamin Franklin was born. Benjamin Franklin did not agree with Puritans views and challenged them, with his Deist views. Deist ideas on God and human nature were vastly different than those of the Puritans, in that they disagreed on the nature of God and the afterlife which caused them to view human nature through different scopes. Deists, and for that matter Franklin, did not believe in the God of the Christians (or of Jesus being the Messiah). They believed in God as a creator, or as Franklin refers to him a First Mover and Maker of the Universe (Franklin, 6). The belief was that God created the universe with its many laws and then simply let it run by itself, a belief which Franklin shared. The Deist God was all-wise, all-good, [and] all powerful (Franklin, 6). Franklin believed that because God was all-powerful that there can be nothing either existing or acting in the Universe against or without his consent (Franklin, 6). Franklin furthered this thought with the belief that if it was true, and what he consents to must be good, because He is good; therefore Evil doth not exist (Franklin, 6). Franklin addressed a possible counterargument against this belief, one that might say things like murder of theft are inherently evil. Franklin counters this by saying to suppose any Thing to exist or be done, contrary to the Will of the Almighty, is to suppose him not almighty (Franklin, 6). Furthermore, if these acts are of God and God is all-good, then these things are inherently good. Puritans believed God to be intimately involved in their lives, punishing them and rewarding them as they sinned and did good respectively. The Puritan view of God was of a very judgmental God who used both wrath and mercy as He saw fit. Wigglesworth refers God being a judge several times in his poem. When Mary Rowlandson was taken captive by the Native Americans, she believed God was punishing her for not going to church and other sins and that it was righteousà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ [for] God to cut off the thread of [her] life, and cast [her] out of his presence for ever (Rowlandson, 3). Upon reading a Bible given to her by one of her captors, Rowlandson found There was mercy promised again, if we would return to him by repentance (Rowlandson, 5). This is the way most Puritans viewed their lives: in terms of what they did to please and anger God. John Dane attributed each trouble he encountered, such as an allergic reaction to a wasp sting and palsy, to Gods retribution for sins he had co mmitted. He then says that when he did reform It pleased God in a short time to ease [him]à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and [he] stood in awe of Gods judgments (Dane, 4). Puritans did what they could to please God, and accepted His punishment when they sinned. Yet, Puritans believed that deep down they were all evil and only a few of them would be truly redeemed. The Deist Franklin did not believe that God created an afterlife for human beings, which is to say he did not believe in Heaven or Hell. Franklin instead believed in pleasure and pain; pain being the misfortunes and sorrows in life and pleasure being the satisfaction of the desire to be free from pain. Franklin believed that pleasure and pain are in balance in life and that one could not exist without the other. He believed that pleasure was wholly caused by Pain and, by his definition of pleasure, therefore pleasure must be equal, or in exact proportion to pain (Franklin, 7). Franklin really stresses this balance of pleasure and pain. He perceives a possible counterargument against this belief as well. Such an argument might object that there is no such balance in life because it is easy to see people who live their whole lives in misery and pain and die without ever being relieved of this pain. Franklin counters this by saying that no one can be proper Judges of the good or bad For tune of Others (Franklin, 8), which is to say that the balance of pleasure and pain is individualistic, and no one can say that was causes him or her pain causes anyone else pain. Franklin furthers this by saying that even if a person lives their whole life in pain, the receive release, and therefore pleasure, from this pain when they die. He says, Pain, though exquisite, is not so to the last moments of lifeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ and tis quite an exquisite Pleasure to behold the immediate Approaches of Rest (Franklin, 8). In the end, there will be a balance of pleasure and pain. Franklin sees that as there is this balance, there is no need for an afterlife. One would not need heaven to make up for earthly pains, as they would have been balanced out in life. Puritans believed fiercely in Heaven and Hell, and that God had created both places of afterlife. God predestined everyones fate, and chose only a select few to be saved and spend eternity in Heaven. Most people were damned to spend eternity in Hell because of Original Sin. Thomas Shepard said, Your best duties are tainted, poisoned, and mingled with sin (Wigglesworth, 4). Thus, because of Original Sin no human action could be inherently good; and he went on to say your good duties can not save you, yet your bad works will damn you (Wigglesworth, 4). It was only by Gods grace that a person could be saved. The pain one experienced on earth was punishment for sin, and only received relief if they were chosen by God to go to Heaven. According to Wigglesworth, the greatest relief of Heaven is that saints are made sinless and finally do not have to fear forfeiting Gods love (Wigglesworth, 4). Puritans believed that the people who went to Hell deserved it, even so much as Wigglesworth desc ribes a father learning of his son being sent to Hell and says he doth rejoyce to hear Christs voice/ adjudging him to pain (Wigglesworth, 4). Puritans accepted the fact that most of them would be condemned to Hell. Because Franklins God was all-good, everything created was all-good, and there was no afterlife, he viewed life (specifically human nature) differently than most people. It allowed Franklin to believe that human beings were naturally good-natured and to place importance on the mortal life. Thus, Franklin believed in the importance of self-improvement and virtue without God demanding a need for it. Franklin believed that anyone could improve their station, both economically and morally. Franklin even said hed formd most of [his] ingenious acquaintance into a club of mututal improvement which [they] called the JUNTO (Franklin, 10). In Franklins words, this club was designed to discuss Morals, Politics, or Natural Philosophy (science)à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ [with the] sincere spirit of inquiry after truth (Franklin, 10). Franklin truly believed that people could grasp their purpose in life by pondering these things and thereby better themselves. Yet, perhaps the most important concept Franklin came up with in regards to human nature were his thirteen virtues. Franklins thirteen virtues were temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility (Franklin, 12-13). In this, one can see how Franklin placed value on virtue outside of a religious need for it. Franklin said that in these virtues there is no mark of any of the distinguishing tenets of any particular sect. [He] had purposely avoided themà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ [so] that it might be serviceable to people in all religions (Franklin, 15). Franklin said his virtues were in every ones interestà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ who wished to be happy even in this world (Franklin, 15).For Franklin, the mortal life was all one had and it was ones duty as a human being to become morally perfect and achieve ones fullest potential. Puritans had a completely different take on human nature, formed from their belief about God and the afterlife. To Puritans, human beings were naturally evil and they placed heavy importance on the afterlife. Dane was so convinced of his evil nature, he thought that it was a greater evil to live and sin against God than to kill [himself] (Dane, 6). The mortal life was about living in ways to please God or else risk his wrath and punishment. The Puritan life was centered solely on God because of his intimate involvement in their life. Dane puts it as Beating my thoughts on Gods infinite love took such an impression of my heart as that I thought I could do anything for God or suffer anything for God (Dane, 7). Dane warns that if one does not live their life like this they will bring sorrow and affliction on [their] heads and heartsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ to their great grief and sorrow (Dane, 7). It was not by their own hands that they could make themselves better, only by Gods providence. Bec ause Puritans accepted that most of them would go to Hell, it was their responsibility in the mortal life to do all they could to please God. At the same time, those predestined to be saved had the same responsibility or else risk eternal damnation. Yet most Puritans did not know what fate awaited them, so all had to live as if they were among the saved. The Deist Franklins God was all-good and did not create an afterlife, therefore it was human nature to be good and live their mortal life to its fullest potential. The Puritan God was intimately involved in their lives, judged them harshly for misdeeds, and eternally damned most of them. Therefore, it was human nature to be evil and sin and they had to live their lives by what God wanted in the hope that they were the ones God had chosen to save. It was because of their differing views on God that cause Franklin and Puritans to have such a different view on human nature.