Question: Discussions are fundamental to shared learning, so please be sure to participate early and often!

After you have completed the Reading, and without reviewing your classmate's responses, post your initial response to the following Discussion. Your post should be at least 350 words in length and should extend the Discussion of the group supported by your course materials and/or other appropriate resources.

After you have submitted your initial post, take time to review your classmates' responses and to respond specifically and substantially to at least two of them. Refer to the Discussion Rubric in Course Resources for specific grading explanation.

Animal research is highly controversial, and yet it is often used when studying learning and behavior. How does animal research provide useful information applicable to human beings? Discuss the importance of animal research in better understanding any of the following issues (or provide your own example):

• addiction

• depression/anxiety

• phobias

• response to rewards or punishment

In this unit, you have explored the idea that learning serves a valuable purpose to the organism. It often increases survival and provides improved quality of life opportunities. In these ways, learning is "adaptive." In this Discussion, describe an example of how learning can be "maladaptive."