Final answer:
Cognitive learning in rats is exemplified by their ability to run a maze by developing a cognitive map, a mental representation of the maze, which facilitates navigation once a reward, such as food, is present.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability of rats to learn how to run a maze is an example of cognitive learning. During cognitive learning, an animal, like a rat in a maze experiment, forms a mental representation of the environment, which is sometimes referred to as a cognitive map. This type of learning was demonstrated by E.C. Tolman, who found that even without immediate rewards, rats developed a cognitive map of the maze and were able to navigate it quickly once a reward was introduced, showcasing latent learning.In studies conducted by H.C. Blodgett and later by E.C. Tolman, rats were motivated by food rewards to run through mazes, and their ability to do so improved over time. This process involves the rats developing an understanding of the maze structure, which goes beyond simple conditioning.
It shows that cognitive learning involves the mental processes of comprehension, memory, and problem-solving, as the rats learn to navigate towards a goal.Cognitive learning refers to the process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thinking, problem-solving, and mental processes. In the case of rats running a maze, cognitive learning involves the use of cognitive maps, which are mental representations of the maze layout. The rats develop these maps by exploring the maze and forming an internal understanding of its structure. They can then use these maps to navigate the maze more efficiently in subsequent trials.