Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!ncar!gatech!ukma!psuvm.bitnet!cunyvm!byuvax!fordjm
From: fordjm@byuvax.bitnet
Newsgroups: sci.psychology
Subject: Intelligent Parrots
Message-ID: <175fordjm@byuvax.bitnet>
Date: 11 Apr 88 05:13:40 GMT
Lines: 17

>        Regarding the question of whether "any" behavior is hard wired.
>I recall reading about behavior-response pairings which were apparently
>not possible.  Something about rats being able to associate electric
>shocks with a visual stimulus, but not nausea with a visual stimulus?
>Some of you "cognitive psych" people must be familiar with the experiment.

I think that the study you are referring to has to do with Seligman's concept
of "preparedness."  He claimed that certain organisms may find it "easier"
to learn a particular type of S-R connection (e.g. visual-pain avoidance)
because of their evolutionary history (or genetic background).

I can't track down the reference right now either.  SR psychology is not
particularly useful for the kinds of things I'm doing, so I don't keep
sources around.

John M. Ford             fordjm@byuvax.bitnet