Final answer:
Rats exhibit cognitive learning abilities, such as forming cognitive maps to navigate mazes, which are influenced by rewards. Early negative experiences can alter amygdala function, affecting behavior. These studies also emphasize the rats' sensitivity to photoperiod changes impacting their circadian rhythms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cognitive learning in rats showcases their ability to build mental representations of their environment, a process not limited to humans and evident in simple mammals. Studies like the ones conducted by H.C. Blodgett and E.C. Tolman showed that rats could navigate mazes by forming cognitive maps, which demonstrates their capacity for cognitive learning beyond simple conditioning. As exemplified by Blodgett's experiments, rats developed these maps over time with variable rates of learning, influenced by the presence or absence of immediate rewards such as food.
Additionally, the influence of early life experiences on behavioral outcomes is significant. Research by Raineki et al. indicated that negative experiences, like improper maternal care or negative associative tasks, lead to alterations in the function of the amygdala and could induce depressive-like symptoms in rats. These findings underscore the complexity of learning and memory processes in rats, and their behavioral responses to different stimuli and environmental factors, including photoperiods which can significantly affect their circadian rhythms.