Attention, memory and learning Flashcards
Why is learning important?
If we understand how a behaviour is learned then we may be able to modify or change it
Also important to understand how learning may contribute to psychological distress or psychiatric illness
What are the types of classical conditioning?
Delayed (forward)
- conditioned stimulus is presented before the unconditioned stimulus is presented and remains “on” until the unconditioned response appears
Backward
- conditioned stimulus is presented after the unconditioned stimulus (typically produces very little learning)
Simultaneous
- conditioned and unconditioned stimuli are presented together - conditioning has occurred when the conditioned stimulus produces the conditioned response
Trace
- conditioned stimulus is presented and removed before the unconditioned stimulus is presented so that only a “memory trace” of the conditioned stimulus is conditioned
What does generalisation mean in terms of conditioning?
The conditioned response transfers spontaneously to a stimulus similar to but different from the original
e.g. dog is trained using a particular bell then a bell of a different pitch produces conditioned response
What does discrimination mean in terms of conditioning?
The dog is presented with various bells of increasing difference to the original conditioned stimulus and eventually the conditioned response stops altogether
How may human phobias be perpetuated?
through avoidance
How can phobias be treated?
treated by graded exposure (desensitisation/extinction)
What clinical syndromes may demonstrate phobic avoidance?
Simple phobias
Panic disorder/agoraphobia
PTSD
OCD
What are the principles of operant conditioning?
Positive reinforcers
- strengthen behaviours which results in their presentation
Negative reinforcers
- strengthen behaviours which results in their avoidance or removal
Punishers
- weaken behaviours which results in their presentation
What does it mean by shaping?
Reinforcement of successive approximations
Behaviour modification in children - toilet training, dressing self
Can also be used with more challenging learners- autism or asperger’s
What are the main differences between classical and operant conditioning?
- response elicited vs emitted
- pleasurable vs aversive outcomes
- response magnitude vs response rate
What is social learning theory?
we learn through watching other’s behaviours
We learn through watching consequences
Modelling
Imitation
Some behaviours are virtually impossible to learn properly without observation
What are the links between learning and memory?
inextricably linked
ability to learn depends upon your ability to remember
ability to remember depends on prior learning
What are the three stages of memory processes?
1) registration (encoding)
- refers to input (selective attention)
- how are things remembered?
2) Storage
- refers to the way in which sensory information is retained in memory
- Where is memory kept and is there more than one kind
3) retrieval
- refers to the way in which stored information is recovered
- what do we remember and why do we forget ?
What is the process of sensory memory?
External stimulus leads to a sensory memory which leads to short term memory and the long term memory
What is the magical number for memory capacity?
7(±2)
chunking - seven slots
What are ways of trying to remember things?
Arranging letters into words, words into phrases, phrases into sentences
arranging numbers e.g. 4 numbers into one date
Using rules and series (numbers)
What are the key facts about short term memory?
Limited capacity
Short duration 15-30 seconds (untrained)
Can be increased by maintenance (rehearsal)
Mainly acoustic, some semantic but visual is also possible
What is the serial position effect?
Primary effect:
- items from the beginning were recalled quite well compared to those in the middle but not as well as those at the end
Recency effect:
- typically recalled items from the end of the list first, and got more of those correct than the earlier items
What are the key facts about long term memory?
Unlimited capacity
Variable duration (from a few seconds to several years)
Can be permanent
Coding may be semantic, visual, acoustic but also olfactory, gustatory
Cues and context aids retrieval
What happens to our memory when we are in a medical consultation?
Patient’s generally remember less than 50% of the information given
Markedly reduced in the elderly
What are the different forms of memory impairment?
Global
- dementias
- delirium
Focal
- amnesia
- epilepsy
Functional psychiatric
- schizophrenia/depression
What is working memory?
short term memory does not account enough for all which memory does
Working memory functions like a computer processor (your ram)
it is a feature of central execute (higher cognitive functions)
- attention
- concentration
- initiation
- system regulation and programming
