Kirsten Rewey wrote:
Can anyone explain the differences between a taxis and a kinesis?
Kristen, it's my understanding that kinesis refers to a *general*
change in *overall* activity of the organism under certain
environmental conditions (e.g., in Domjan, grasshoppers are
more generally active in dry places than in moist places).
In contrast, taxis refers to a specific kind of stimulus-directed
activity that an organism engages in when that stimulus
is present (e.g., in Domjan, earthworms *turn away* from
a bright light).
So, an earthworm may end up in the dark through either
kinesis (if they're in a light place, they'll be more generally
active and so are likely to end up in a dark place, where
they're more likely to stop), or through taxis, by specifically
turning it's body/motion away from a specific, strong light
source.
Does that help?
-Mike
*****************************************************
Michael J. Kane
Psychology Department
Georgia State University
University Plaza
Atlanta, GA 30303-3083
phone: 404-651-0704
fax: 404-651-0753
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
"It is morally as bad not to care whether a thing
is true or not, so long as it makes you feel good,
as it is not to care how you got your money as
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-- E.W. Teale
