Question

Learning is defined as a change in behavior as a result of experience. In a short essay (100–150 words), describe how heritable information contributes to the acquisition of learning, using some examples from imprinting and associative learning.

Short answer

Learning is classified into two types based on the mode of experience, and those are associative learning and imprinting. Associative learning occurs through environmental stimuli such as rewards and punishments.

For example, the ringing of bells stimulates saliva production in the dog. Students complete their work quickly to get praise from the teacher.

Imprinting includes both acquired and innate traits. A bird learning song from their parents is an example of imprinting. The birds already have the ability to sing, but it learns the pattern or theme of the song from the adults.

Step-by-step solution

Learning 

The experience occurred in organisms leads to a behavioral adaptation, and such experience is called learning. The environmental factor that brings specific modification is the behavior of the organism.

The nervous system organization enables the individual to learn, and its capacity varies from organism to organism.

Imprinting

A type of learning which develops species identification is called imprinting. For example, ducks or gees begin the process of imprinting after hatching. They learn to swim and collect food by watching their mother. It is innate as well as acquired.

A period in which organisms undergo imprinting by their adults is denoted as a sensitive period. However, some behaviors are innate; they are inherited from their parents.

The duck which incubated in an incubator has the ability to swim just like their species. The imprinting takes place through parents, but it can also learn by watching the same species who are able to swim.

Associative learning

The learning which happens through experience is associative learning. It is not inherited through parents.For example, learning to drive bicycle is associative learning.The skill of driving a bicycle is not transferred to the next generation.

In the same way, if someone is allergic to a particular food, they may learn to associate that specific food cause allergies and stop eating the same.

Associative learning happens daily while interacting with the environment, and it is an ongoing process in every individual. However, the capacity of learning might differ between the species.