Animal Learning And Memory Flashcards
What is learning
learning refers to the process by which animals acquire new behaviors or modify existing ones through their experiences with the environment.
What is hebbian learning
Hebbian learning is a type of learning in which connections between neurons are strengthened when they are repeatedly activated together. Or wasted if Unstimulated
This process means the nervous system is malleable (plastic)
(Eye becomes blind if not stimulated by light because the synapses die off) -in kittens
What is habituation
Habituation is a form of learning in which an animal becomes less responsive to a repeated or familiar stimulus over time. This means that the animal learns to ignore or tune out the stimulus because it is no longer seen as relevant or important.
Happens if when a stimulus happens there is no negative effect
What is sensitisation
Sensitization is a type of learning in which an animal becomes more responsive to a stimulus over time, often as a result of repeated exposure or prior experience with the stimulus.
Happens if when a stimulus happens there is a negative effect
Or if training they get rewarded
Are habituation and sensitisation highly conserved
Yes, the neural mechanism are the same in invertebrates and vertebrates
- largely genetically determined neural circuits
- they are non associative forms of learning
What is imprinting
Imprinting is a type of learning that occurs early in an animal’s life and involves the formation of a strong, irreversible attachment to a particular object or individual.
Why does imprinting happen
During the critical period, the young bird is particularly receptive to certain sensory stimuli, such as visual or auditory cues, and can quickly form strong attachments to whatever object or individual it encounters during this time. This attachment can be so strong that the bird will follow the object or individual around, even if it is not its mother.
What is filial imprinting
Follow the first salient thing that moves
What is sexual imprinting
Court individual that are similar to those you first imprinted on
What is associative learning
Associative learning is a type of learning that involves forming a connection, or association, between two stimuli or between a stimulus and a response. This type of learning is based on the idea that an animal can learn to associate one stimulus with another and respond in a predictable way.
What are the two types of associative learning
Classical conditioning and operant conditioning
Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning involves learning to associate a neutral stimulus (such as a sound or a light) with a biologically significant stimulus (such as food or pain). Over time, the neutral stimulus can come to elicit a similar response to the biologically significant stimulus. For example, if a dog hears a bell every time it is fed, it may start to salivate at the sound of the bell alone, even when food is not present.
Operant conditioning
Operant conditioning involves learning to associate a specific behavior with a consequence. If a behavior leads to a desirable outcome (such as a reward), an animal is more likely to repeat that behavior in the future. Conversely, if a behavior leads to an undesirable outcome (such as punishment), an animal is less likely to repeat that behavior in the future.
-the behavioural response is novel and less Instinctive
How are responses to stimuli measured
Proportion of correct responses in each batch
Time taken to complete task
Strength of the response
