7b) Biology, Cognition and learning

The concept of latent learning helps to demonstrate that:

rewards affect performance of what has been learned rather than the process of learning itself.

_____ is the researcher who discovered mirror neurons through his experiments with monkeys.

Giacomo Rizzolatti

Which of the following statements best describes the phenomenon of instinctive drift?

The biological predisposition to perform natural behaviors can interfere with learning operant behaviors.

According to Bandura's theory of observational learning, which of the following characteristics make portrayals of violence on television more likely to be imitated?

Violent behavior is performed by the hero or another attractive, high-status individual.

Repeated exposure to graphic violence in movies, television, and violent video games may increase the likelihood of imitation of violent behavior and also tends to:

cause desensitization to observed violence.

Road construction prevents Binit from getting to campus using the route that he always travels. He thinks about the situation for a moment and then comes up with a different route to take. To figure out this alternative route, Binit is using his _____ of the area to devise a different route.

cognitive map

An experimenter visits a preschool with a big box of magic markers and paper. The children are told that they can draw as many pictures as they want. The children enjoyed the task very much. On another visit the children are told that for every picture they draw they would earn a prize. Two weeks later when the experimenter returned he offered up the markers and papers for play but no prizes would be given. The children played very little with the markers because:

extrinsic rewards can undermine intrinsic motivation.

Darwin's principles of evolution suggest that it would be easiest to classically condition an association that _____.

improves odds of survival

Juan easily taught his cat to jump through a hoop for the reward of food, but could not get his cat to fetch a ball and return the ball to him. The cat would chase the ball but use his paws to roll the ball so he could chase the ball again. The reason the cat had difficulties with fetching the ball was because of:

instinctive drift.

Ty's mother is frustrated that he will not spend the time on his school work that he does practicing and playing baseball. Ty will spend hours practicing in the hot sun every summer day without a coach telling him to do so. Ty's dedication to baseball can be explained by:

intrinsic motivation.

Researchers often find it more challenging to train dolphins rather than dogs, even though dolphins are smarter. One of the reasons for this difficulty is that dolphins have _____ shared evolutionary heritage with humans than dogs, so they condition to stimuli that is different than what will affect dogs and humans.

less

In observational learning, the most effective models are those:

likely to imitate people perceived as similar to themselves, as successful, or as admirable.

In a study conducted by Singer et al. (2004) that utilized an fMRI, the pain imagined by an empathic romantic partner triggered some of the same brain activity experienced by the loved one actually having the pain. This study demonstrated that empathy is a function of:

mirror neurons.

In experiments with rats in which rewards were not given to the rats for exploring a maze, experimenters later included rewards after several trials. When rewards were given upon reaching the end of the maze, the time needed to complete the maze decreased immediately. This caused researchers to conclude that:

reinforcement is not necessary for learning to occur.

Michelle always drives down Hampton Avenue to go to the work. One morning Michelle discovers that Hampton Avenue is closed at Wood Street because of construction. Michelle immediately takes a different route to work. She is able to make a quick route change because:

she has formed a cognitive map of the area.

Four-year-old Katie observed Maggie, two years younger, begin to cry when she fell down. Katie immediately ran over to Maggie and patted her on the back and told her everything would be alright. She even began to cry herself. Katie's ability to infer Maggie's mental and emotional state is an example of:

theory of mind