2. Learning Flashcards
Definition of Learning
an enduring change in the mechanisms of behavior that result from experience and environmental events
Performance
Change in behavior based on opportunity and motivation (not learning)
Functional definition of learning
a process that allow animals to adjust to their environment through individual experience
Phenotype plasticity
is the ability of an organism to produce different phenotypes depending on the environment
two non-associative learning phenomena
Habituation & Sensitization
two Associative/Cognitive learning phenomena
Classical conditioning & Instrumental conditioning
Non-associative learning
Reactions to stimulus events in the environment (hard-wired responses)
Taxis
reflexive locomotion and orientation to a stimulus
two types of taxis
phototaxis and geotaxis
Phototaxis
orient to light
Geotaxis
orient to spatial/physical position
two types of Orienting responses
Innate response to a novel stimulus & Fixed Action Patterns
Fixed Action Patterns
species specific stereotypical response; Dependent on sign stimuli acting as “releaser”
types of non-associative learning
Habituation & Sensitization
Sensitization
Increase in responsiveness after repeated exposure to a stimulus
Habituation
decrease in responsiveness after repeated exposure to a stimulus
what are the two distinctions between sensitization and habituation
Strong stimulus- sensitization predominates; Weak stimulus- habituation predominates
what is the dual process theory
Habituation and sensitization are not mutually exclusive; Two neural process work together; the behavioral outcome depends on which system is most active; Reduce reactivity to irrelevant stimuli or increase to relevant stimuli
Classical conditioning
associative learning of stimuli and stimulus responses
Varieties of classical conditioning
Appetitive learning: unconditioned stimulus is pleasant (e.g., food and sex); Aversive learning: unconditioned stimulus is unpleasant (e.g., electric shock)