Limits of learning Flashcards
(10 cards)
McDougall trained rats to avoid electric shocks. Then he trained the offspring of these rats on the same task, and then their offspring, and so on for several generations. If he found that each generation inherited more and more skill at avoiding shock than its progenitors had it would support his theory that learned behavior is heritable.
True False
True
McDougall trained rats to avoid electric shocks. Then he trained the offspring of these rats on the same task, and then their offspring, and so on for several generations. If he found that each generation inherited more and more skill at avoiding shock than its progenitors had it would support his theory that learned behavior is heritable. McDougall’s research convinced him that his hypothesis held true, but others remained skeptical and subsequent research challenged this idea.
Robert Tryon’s work demonstrates the role of heredity in _________.
contingency traps
critical periods
maze learning
preparedness
Maze Learning
Robert Tryon’s work demonstrates the role of heredity in maze learning. He ran a large number of rats through a maze and recorded the number of errors each rat made on a series of trials. Rats showed a great deal of variability, with some making over 20 times as many errors as others. Tryon then bred the rats that made the fewest errors with each other, and those that made the most errors with each other. Next, Tryon tested the offspring of these rats on the maze and again bred the brightest of the bright with each other and the dullest of the dull with each other. He repeated this procedure for 18 generations, all the while keeping the environments of the two strains as much alike as possible. The average number of errors in maze running for the two groups got farther and farther apart with each generation, thus suggesting that heredity has an important impact on learning ability.
Before he was born, Maximilian’s mother was exposed to a chemical that interfered with his neurological development. As a result, he was born with a learning disability. Chemicals such as this are known as __________.
neurotoxins
cortical blockers
trace elements
CNS inhibitors
Neurotoxins
Before he was born, Maximilian’s mother was exposed to a chemical that interfered with his neurological development. As a result, he was born with a learning disability. Chemicals such as this are known as neurotoxins.
Skinner’s efforts to teach pigeons to play ping-pong demonstrate that the inability to learn a skill may sometimes be overcome by _________.
breaking the task into small parts
lots of patient training
surgical procedures
allowing for physical limitations
Allowing for physical limitations
Skinner’s efforts to teach pigeons to play ping-pong demonstrate that the inability to learn a skill may sometimes be overcome by making allowances for physical limitations. Pigeons cannot learn to play ping-pong in the usual manner, with paddles, but Skinner taught two pigeons to play using their beaks.
Which of the following best describes the effects of heredity, learning history, and biological factors on learning ability?
Learning history, biological factors, and heredity play no roles in shaping learning ability.
Heredity, learning history, and biological factors all play roles in shaping learning ability.
Learning history shapes learning ability, but biological factors and heredity play no role.
Learning history and biological factors shape learning ability, but heredity plays no role.
Heredity, learning history, and biological factors all play roles in shaping learning ability.
Heredity, learning history, and biological factors shape learning. There is good evidence that heredity affects learning ability, but just because heredity plays a role in learning ability does not mean, of course, that it solely determines learning. Learning history powerfully effects learning ability (refer to Recipe for Genius). Biological factors limit what we or any other species can learn.
Instinctive drift often occurs when the motivational state of the organism is altered.
True False
true
Efforts to teach chimpanzees to talk probably failed because _________.
the researchers did not use the proper reinforcement procedures
the researchers did not begin instruction when the chimps were very young
chimps have their own language, which they would not give up
chimps are not equipped with the biological structures for human speech
chimps are not equipped with the biological structures for human speech
Efforts to teach chimpanzees to talk probably failed because chimps are not equipped with the biological structures for human speech. People would also have a difficult time learning to speak if they had the kind of vocal equipment that other animals have.
Substances that damage the nervous system are called _________.
cortical blockers
CNS inhibitors
neurotoxins
trace elements
neurotoxins
Substances that damage the nervous system are called neurotoxins.
Armadillos curl up into a ball when attacked. Reginald teaches an armadillo to curl up into a ball when a buzzer sounds. Reginald is making use of the phenomenon known as _________.
intelligence
critical periods
preparedness
overadaptability
Preparedness
Armadillos curl up into a ball when attacked. Reginald teaches an armadillo to curl up into a ball when a buzzer sounds. Reginald is making use of the phenomenon known as preparedness. Preparedness is the tendency for animals to be biologically inclined (prepared) to learn certain behaviors, such as curling up into a ball.
In their study of conditioning with rats, Garcia and Koelling paired water with radiation. They found that the rats later avoided _________.
water that was bright and noisy
water with a distinct odor
water with a distinct taste
any kind of water
water with a distinct taste
In their study of conditioning with rats, Garcia and Koelling paired water with radiation. They found that the rats later avoided water with a distinct taste. Rats that had become sick avoided the tasty water; those that had received a shock avoided the bright-noisy water (refer to Figure 13-5). The rats had an apparently innate bias toward learning one thing rather than another.
