Which property suggests modules are part of genetic endowment?

• A. Innately specified
• B. Fixed neural architecture
• C. Fast
• D. Domain specificity

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is that modules tied to genetic endowment are seen as innately specified. When something is innately specified, it means the module is pre-wired by genes and tends to emerge early in development with little need for environmental shaping. That direct link to a genetic blueprint is what makes innately specified the strongest indicator that a cognitive function is part of our inherited endowment.

The other properties describe how a module operates or what it handles, but they don’t as clearly signal a genetic origin. Fast processing is about speed, not birthplace. Fixed neural architecture speaks to stability, but even genetically influenced systems can show plasticity. Domain specificity describes specialized content, which could arise from either innate structure or tailored learning.