1. Biology, Cognition, and Learning
Module 21
Biology, Cognition, and Learning

2. Biology, Cognition, and Learning Biopsychosocial Influences on Learning
Our learning results not only from environmental experiences, but also from cognitive and biological influences.

3. Biology, Cognition, and Learning Biological Constraints on Conditioning Limits on Classical Conditioning
21-1: HOW DO BIOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS AFFECT CLASSICAL AND OPERANT CONDITIONING?
Biological constraints: Evolved biological tendencies that predispose animals’ behavior and learning, making certain behaviors more easy to learn than others
Garcia and Koelling’s taste-aversion research
Animals including humans seem biologically prepared to learn some associations rather than others
Conditioning is stronger when the CS is ecologically relevant
Genetic predisposition to associate CS with a US that follows predictably and immediately is adaptive

4. Biology, Cognition, and Learning Biological Constraints on Conditioning Limits on Operant Conditioning
Nature limits species’ capacity for operant conditioning
Biological constraints predispose organisms to learn associations that are naturally adaptive
Instinctive drift occurs as animals revert to biologically predisposed patterns

5. Biology, Cognition, and Learning Cognition’s Influence on Conditioning Cognition and Classical Conditioning
21-2: HOW DO COGNITIVE PROCESSES AFFECT CLASSICAL AND OPERANT CONDITIONING?
Mental information that guides behavior is acquired through cognitive learning.
Animals learn the predictability of event (Rescorla and Wagner, 1972).
The more predictable the association between a neutral stimulus and unconditioned stimulus, the stronger the conditioned response. It’s as if the animal learns an expectancy, an awareness of how likely it is that the US will occur.

6. Biology, Cognition, and Learning Cognition’s Influence on Conditioning Cognition and Operant Conditioning
Skinner acknowledged the biological underpinnings of behavior but has been criticized for discounting the importance of cognition.
Evidence of cognitive processes
Animal response on fixed-interval reinforcement schedule.
Development of cognitive maps in rats (latent learning that only becomes evident when there is an incentive to demonstrate it).
Intrinsic motivation: A desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake.
Extrinsic motivation: A desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment.

7. Biology, Cognition, and Learning Cognition’s Influence on Conditioning Cognition and Operant Conditioning
Biological and Cognitive Influences on Conditioning

8. Biology, Cognition, and Learning Learning by Observation
21-3: HOW DOES OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING DIFFER FROM ASSOCIATIVE LEARNING? HOW MAY OBSERVATIONAL LEARNING BE ENABLED BY NEURAL MIRRORING?
Observational learning: Higher animals, especially humans, learn without direct experience by watching and imitating others
Albert Bandura is the pioneering researcher of observational learning, famous for the Bobo doll experiment
Modeling is the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior
The Bobo doll experiment showed direct imitation by children of the adult behavior
Vicarious reinforcement and vicarious punishment experienced by watching models

9. The Famous Bobo Doll Experiment
Notice how the children’s actions directly imitate the adult’s.

10. Biology, Cognition, and Learning Mirrors and Imitation in the Brain
Mirror neurons: Frontal lobe neurons that some scientists believe fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so; provide a neural basis for everyday imitation and observational learning.
The brain’s mirroring of another’s action may enable imitation and empathy.
In humans, imitation is pervasive; so strong is the human predisposition to learn from watching adults that children will overimitate, copying even irrelevant adult actions.
Brain response to observing others makes emotions contagious.

11. EXPERIENCED AND IMAGINED PAIN IN THE BRAIN
Brain activity related to actual pain (left) is mirrored in the brain of an observing loved one (right). Empathy in the brain shows up in emotional brain areas, but not in the somatosensory cortex, which receives the physical pain input.

12. Biology, Cognition, and Learning Applications of Observational Learning
21-4: WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF PROSOCIAL MODELING AND OF ANTISOCIAL MODELING?
Prosocial Effects
Prosocial modeling of behavior can have prosocial effects
Behavior modeling enhances learning of communication, sales, and customer service skills in new employees
Modeling nonviolent, helpful behavior prompts similar behavior in others
Research across seven countries showed that viewing prosocial media increased later helping behavior
Socially responsive toddlers tend to have strong internalized conscience as preschoolers
Models most effective with consistent actions and words

13. Biology, Cognition, and Learning Applications of Observational Learning
Antisocial Effects
Abusive parents may have aggressive children
Watching TV and videos may teach children
Bullying is effective tool for controlling others
Free and easy sex doesn’t have later consequences
Men should be tough; women should be gentle
Violence-viewing effect demonstrated when viewing media violence triggers violent behavior
Watching cruelty may foster indifference