7.1 - What is Learning?

Question 1

How is “Learning” defined?

Answer 1

The acquisition, from experience, of new knowledge, skills, or responses that results in a relatively permanent change in the state of the learner.

Question 2

What are the three key ideas emphasized by the definition of “Learning”?

Answer 2

Learning is based on EXPERIENCE

Learning PRODUCES CHANGES in the organism

These changes are RELATIVELY PERMANENT

Question 3

Define “Habituation”

Answer 3

A general process in which repeated or prolonged exposure to a stimulus results in a gradual REDUCTION in responding.

Question 4

Define “Sensitization”

Answer 4

A simple form of learning that occurs when presentation of a stimulus leads to an INCREASED RESPONSE to a later stimulus

Question 5

What is special about the Sea Slug “Aplysia”, which was studied by Eric Kandel?

Answer 5

Kandel’s research revealed that Aplysia exhibit both Habituation and Sensitization;

Habituation: When lightly touched, the sea slug initially withdraws its gill, but the response gradually weakens after repeated light touches

Sensitization: After receiving a strong shock, Aplysia showed an increased gill-withdrawal response to a light touch