L6 - Learning About Time

Question 1

What is periodic timing?

Answer 1

Learning to respond at a particular time
e.g. circadian rhythms

Question 2

What was Carlsons research with rats?

Answer 2

They would run on the wheel during the dark periods, regardless of time
When it was always dim they would run at the same time on a 25 hour cycle

Question 3

What did Bolles and Stokes 1965 find about 24-hour clock being innate or experience?

Answer 3

Subjects were born and reared under different light/dark cycles
They learn to anticipate food if on a 24 hour cycle, but not on any other time schedules

Question 4

What is the superchiasmatic nucleus?

Answer 4

May be evidence for 24 hour clock
The metabolic rate appears to vary as a function of the day night cycle
Lesions of the SCN abolish the circadian regularity
Suggests that every cell in the body has a circadian rhythm controlled by the SCN

Question 5

What is Weber’s Law?

Answer 5

The just noticeable difference when you change a stimulus is proportional to the initial intensity/magnitude of the changed stimulus
Small amounts judged more accurately than large amounts
You can tell one from two sugars easier than 8-9