Biological Constraints in Learning

Medium Unit 4: Learning Biological Constraints

In the study of learning, particularly in the context of classical conditioning, researchers have found that certain species demonstrate biological constraints that limit the types of associations they can form. For example, while rats can easily learn to associate a certain taste with illness, they may not readily associate sights or sounds with illness. This phenomenon reflects the innate predispositions of different species. Which of the following best exemplifies the concept of biological constraints in learning?

Dogs salivating at the sound of a bell after having been conditioned to associate the sound with food.

Pigeons pecking a disk to receive a food pellet after a light turns on.

Rats refusing to eat new food after experiencing nausea, but showing no aversion to sounds that coincide with feeding.

Cats learning to open doors by pulling on a handle after having experienced successful outcomes previously.

Humans developing a preference for sweet tastes due to positive experiences during childhood.

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