Modal action patterns, also known as fixed action patterns in ethology, are a genetic-like behavior or chain of behaviors that is triggered by a particular stimulus. Classic studies by Konrad Lorenz and Niko Tinbergen which show up in my footnotes of today’s readings take me back to early undergrad studies and even high school biology class! Examples of MAPs are spider web building, bird nest building, dog herding, baby birds pecking at particular spots on adults beaks for a feeding response, an