Blakemoore and Cooper 1970

Question 1

What was the sample?

Answer 1

Kittens from birth to approx 1 year

Question 2

What was the research method used?

Answer 2

lab

Question 3

What was the research design used?

Answer 3

independent measures design

Question 4

What was the procedure?

Answer 4

1. Kittens were housed in a dark room from birth
2. At around 2 weeks, placed in cylinder apparatus for 5 hrs a day, decorated b&w stripes (either horizontal/vertical)
3. After 5 months, placed in well lit room.
4. 7.5 months, 2 presented images with either vertical/horizontal lines

Question 5

What are 2 findings?

Answer 5

• Their tracking of moving objects was clumsy. Horizontally-reared kittens would only respond to the rod if it was shaken at them horizontally (same for the vertically –reared).
• The kittens appeared to suffer from ‘physical blindness’.

Question 6

What is 1 conclusion?

Answer 6

Early visual experiences can modify kittens’ perception in terms of their behaviour and biology

Question 7

How does it relate to the key theme ‘brain plasticity’?

Answer 7

Demonstrates that in the developing brains of cats, the visual neurons will change their preferred orientation

Question 8

How does it relate to the biological area?

Answer 8

Investigates the effect of the environment on the developing brain in cats.