PSYC 140 MIDTERM QUESTIONS || CORRECT ANSWERS
100%.
Suppose one infant, "infant BR," could categorically perceive blue and red but not green...how
would infant BR's habituation/dishabituation patterns look different from another ("infant
BGR"), who categorically perceived blue, green and red? Describe the experimental paradigm
used and draw a figure illustrating the two different results. correct answers - Habituation and
dishabituation can be used to study infants' perceptual abilities
Experimental paradigm:
- 1st, both infants would be exposed to stimuli consisting of red and blue objects. As they
repeatedly see these colors, they become habituated to them (less interested)
- then, both infants would be exposed to new stimuli, but both infants would still show
habituation to red and blue because they can categorically perceive these colors.
- then, to see if these infants can perceive green, a green stimulus would be introduced and they
would see whether habituation or dishabituation occurs.
-- the BR infant would not experience dishabituation when green is introduced because it can't
categorically perceive green
-- however, the BGR infant would likely exhibit dishabituation because they can categorically
perceive green.
Provide two examples of critical/sensitive periods in perceptual or cognitive development and
two cases where no such periods seem present. Speculate as to why the periods are found in one
set and not in the other. correct answers A critical or sensitive period in perceptual and cognitive
development refer to specific time frames during which certain experiences or environmental
inputs have a particularly strong impact on a person's development.
Example 1: Language Acquisition
- critical period for language acquisition during the first few years of life. children exposed to
language during this period tend to acquire language skills rapidly and effortlessly
- speculation: this critical period may be linked to the malleability of the developing brain during
early childhood. Neural connections related to language development are highly adaptive during
this time, making it easier for children to acquire language skills.
Example 2: Visual development
,- there are sensitive periods for the development of binocular vision, depth perception, and
amblyopia (lazy eye). Early visual experiences are critical for proper development of these
functions
- speculation: the brain's visual system is highly adaptable early in life
2 examples of no critical period
1) executive function skills
- working memory, cognitive control - continued to be developed and enhanced throughout life
- speculation: executive function skills rely on complex brain networks that continue to develop
and adapt
2) social and emotional development
- life long processes, these skills can be improved at any age
- speculation: social and emotional development involves complex interactions with others &
experiences that are ongoing and varied throughout life
What is the role of DNA methylation in mammalian epigenetics? How has it changed views of
how traits are transmitted across generations? correct answers DNA methylation in mammalian
epigenetics is a key mechanism that regulates gene expression and influences how traits are
transmitted across generations. It has expanded our understanding of the inheritance of traits by
emphasizing the role of epigenetic modifications and environmental influences in shaping an
individual's characteristics and health outcomes.
A peculiar animal first learns to perceive depth by pictorial cues, then by binocular cues, then
dynamic cues. Construct a story of its environmental niche, its anatomy/physiology and
behavior, and a developmental pathway that would make this order plausible. The animal may
well need to be fictional but try to make its environment feasible. correct answers Environmental
Niche: a rainforest that has soft, diffused light. the forest floor, however, contains a maze of
interwoven foliage and glowing, pulsating mushrooms. our animal's primary food source
camouflages within the complex patters of bioluminescence.
Anatomy/Physiology: this animal has developed large, multifaceted compound eyes that can
detect even the faintest variations in light and color. It has a strong neural network, particularly in
visual processing centers, enabling it to interpret complex visual information. these adaptations
help it navigate the intricate patterns of the forest floor.
, Behavior:
- This animal starts life by basking in the radiant glow of the bioluminescent mushrooms. They
learn to discern depth by observing the varying distances between the mushrooms and the
textures created by the patterns on their caps. This initial pictorial cue phase helps them gauge
proximity.
- as they mature, the animal spends more time climbing the trees. they adapt to using biocular
vision when hunting their prey that hangout above the forest floor. by observing their prey, they
develop binocular depth perception
- when the animal goes tot he ground to chase other prey, they encounter dynamic cues from fast-
moving targets. their brains adapt, allowing them to process motion and depth more effectively
How would you train a rat to climb a ladder, walk across a gangplank and wiggle its way through
a tunnel to get a food pellet? What are the implications for learning how to perform ordered
sequences through operant conditioning as a child? What might be an alternative account for
learning an ordered sequence? correct answers Similar to how BF SKINNER uses shaping on
pigeons, I would shape this rat's behaviors so that it eventualy climbs the ladder, then walks
across a gangplank and finally wiggle through a tunnel to receive the reward (food).
- initially the rat would be placed at the base of the ladder, and a positive reinforcement would be
given when it climbs a few rungs. Gradually, the rat is encouraged to climb higher.
- next, the rat is given another reward when it successfully walks across the plant after climbing
the ladder.
- then, the tunnel is introduced adn rewards are given for navigating through it after climbing the
ladder and walking the gangplank.
Operant conditioning & child development: children can benefit from reinforcement and positive
feedback to learn sequential tasks. This involves breaking down tasks into manageable steps,
providing feedback, and reinforcing successful completion.
Alternative account for learning an ordered sequence: cognitive development and memory
- children's capacity to encode, store, and retrieve information enables them to learn ordered
sequences.
100%.
Suppose one infant, "infant BR," could categorically perceive blue and red but not green...how
would infant BR's habituation/dishabituation patterns look different from another ("infant
BGR"), who categorically perceived blue, green and red? Describe the experimental paradigm
used and draw a figure illustrating the two different results. correct answers - Habituation and
dishabituation can be used to study infants' perceptual abilities
Experimental paradigm:
- 1st, both infants would be exposed to stimuli consisting of red and blue objects. As they
repeatedly see these colors, they become habituated to them (less interested)
- then, both infants would be exposed to new stimuli, but both infants would still show
habituation to red and blue because they can categorically perceive these colors.
- then, to see if these infants can perceive green, a green stimulus would be introduced and they
would see whether habituation or dishabituation occurs.
-- the BR infant would not experience dishabituation when green is introduced because it can't
categorically perceive green
-- however, the BGR infant would likely exhibit dishabituation because they can categorically
perceive green.
Provide two examples of critical/sensitive periods in perceptual or cognitive development and
two cases where no such periods seem present. Speculate as to why the periods are found in one
set and not in the other. correct answers A critical or sensitive period in perceptual and cognitive
development refer to specific time frames during which certain experiences or environmental
inputs have a particularly strong impact on a person's development.
Example 1: Language Acquisition
- critical period for language acquisition during the first few years of life. children exposed to
language during this period tend to acquire language skills rapidly and effortlessly
- speculation: this critical period may be linked to the malleability of the developing brain during
early childhood. Neural connections related to language development are highly adaptive during
this time, making it easier for children to acquire language skills.
Example 2: Visual development
,- there are sensitive periods for the development of binocular vision, depth perception, and
amblyopia (lazy eye). Early visual experiences are critical for proper development of these
functions
- speculation: the brain's visual system is highly adaptable early in life
2 examples of no critical period
1) executive function skills
- working memory, cognitive control - continued to be developed and enhanced throughout life
- speculation: executive function skills rely on complex brain networks that continue to develop
and adapt
2) social and emotional development
- life long processes, these skills can be improved at any age
- speculation: social and emotional development involves complex interactions with others &
experiences that are ongoing and varied throughout life
What is the role of DNA methylation in mammalian epigenetics? How has it changed views of
how traits are transmitted across generations? correct answers DNA methylation in mammalian
epigenetics is a key mechanism that regulates gene expression and influences how traits are
transmitted across generations. It has expanded our understanding of the inheritance of traits by
emphasizing the role of epigenetic modifications and environmental influences in shaping an
individual's characteristics and health outcomes.
A peculiar animal first learns to perceive depth by pictorial cues, then by binocular cues, then
dynamic cues. Construct a story of its environmental niche, its anatomy/physiology and
behavior, and a developmental pathway that would make this order plausible. The animal may
well need to be fictional but try to make its environment feasible. correct answers Environmental
Niche: a rainforest that has soft, diffused light. the forest floor, however, contains a maze of
interwoven foliage and glowing, pulsating mushrooms. our animal's primary food source
camouflages within the complex patters of bioluminescence.
Anatomy/Physiology: this animal has developed large, multifaceted compound eyes that can
detect even the faintest variations in light and color. It has a strong neural network, particularly in
visual processing centers, enabling it to interpret complex visual information. these adaptations
help it navigate the intricate patterns of the forest floor.
, Behavior:
- This animal starts life by basking in the radiant glow of the bioluminescent mushrooms. They
learn to discern depth by observing the varying distances between the mushrooms and the
textures created by the patterns on their caps. This initial pictorial cue phase helps them gauge
proximity.
- as they mature, the animal spends more time climbing the trees. they adapt to using biocular
vision when hunting their prey that hangout above the forest floor. by observing their prey, they
develop binocular depth perception
- when the animal goes tot he ground to chase other prey, they encounter dynamic cues from fast-
moving targets. their brains adapt, allowing them to process motion and depth more effectively
How would you train a rat to climb a ladder, walk across a gangplank and wiggle its way through
a tunnel to get a food pellet? What are the implications for learning how to perform ordered
sequences through operant conditioning as a child? What might be an alternative account for
learning an ordered sequence? correct answers Similar to how BF SKINNER uses shaping on
pigeons, I would shape this rat's behaviors so that it eventualy climbs the ladder, then walks
across a gangplank and finally wiggle through a tunnel to receive the reward (food).
- initially the rat would be placed at the base of the ladder, and a positive reinforcement would be
given when it climbs a few rungs. Gradually, the rat is encouraged to climb higher.
- next, the rat is given another reward when it successfully walks across the plant after climbing
the ladder.
- then, the tunnel is introduced adn rewards are given for navigating through it after climbing the
ladder and walking the gangplank.
Operant conditioning & child development: children can benefit from reinforcement and positive
feedback to learn sequential tasks. This involves breaking down tasks into manageable steps,
providing feedback, and reinforcing successful completion.
Alternative account for learning an ordered sequence: cognitive development and memory
- children's capacity to encode, store, and retrieve information enables them to learn ordered
sequences.
