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song

n. in animal behavior, a complex, relatively long sequence of vocalizations that is often stereotyped in its overall structure or sequence of calls. It is used to defend territories against members of the same sex and species as well as to attract mates. Song is thought to occur primarily in birds, but the term also has been used to describe long acoustic sequences produced by crickets and certain primates (e.g., gibbons). In the northern temperate zone, song is usually seasonal and under the control of gonadal steroids, but in the tropics, there is little evidence of hormonal control.

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Psychology term of the day

November 27th 2024

weight regulation

weight regulation

a process, governed by a complex array of neural mechanisms and structures (including the hypothalamus), in which the brain seeks an optimum balance between an organism’s food intake and energy expenditure after a certain body weight is achieved. A number of other factors, such as environmental stimuli, may influence the process as well.