Behavioral Sciences Chapter 3: Learning and Memory

Question 1

Define habituation.

Answer 1

The process of becoming used to a stimulus

Question 2

Define dishabituation.

Answer 2

Resensitization to original stimulus when a second stimulus intervenes

Question 3

What is associative learning?

Answer 3

Pairing together stimuli and responses, or behaviors and consequences

Question 4

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 4

an unconditional stimulus that produces an instinctive, unconditioned response is paired with a neutral stimulus. With repetition, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus that produces a conditioned response.

Question 5

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 5

behavior is changed through the use of consequences.

Question 6

What is the difference between reinforcement and punishment?

Answer 6

reinforcement - increases the likelihood of the behavior

punishment - decreases the likelihood of the behavior

Question 7

How does the schedule of reinforcement affect the rate at which the behavior is performed?

Answer 7

Schedules can either be based on a ratio of behavior to reward or on an amount of time and can be either fixed or variable. Behaviors learned through variable-ratio schedules are the hardest to extinguish.

Question 8

What is observational learning?

Answer 8

Also called modeling. This is the aquisition of behavior by watching others.

Question 9

What is encoding?

Answer 9

Encoding is the process of putting new information into memory. It can be automatic or effortful.

Question 10

What type of coding is the strongest?

Answer 10

Semantic encoding is stronger than both acoustic and visual encoding.

Question 11

What does working memory require?

Answer 11

short-term memory, attention and executive function to manipulate information.

Question 12

What is similar between sensory and short-term memory?

Answer 12

Transient and are based on neurotransmitter activity.

Question 13

What does long term memory require?

Answer 13

elaborative rehearsal and is the result of increased neuronal connectivity.

Question 14

What does explicit (declarative) memory store?

Answer 14

facts and stories

Question 15

What does implicit (nondeclarative) memory store?

Answer 15

skills and conditioning effects

Question 16

How are facts stored?

Answer 16

Semantic networks

Question 17

Which is stronger - recognition or recall?

Answer 17

Recognition

Question 18

What is retrieval of information based on?

Answer 18

priming interconnected nodes of the semantic network

Question 19

How can memories be lost?

Answer 19

Disorders such as: Alzheimer’s disease, Korsakoff’s syndrome; decay; or interference

Question 20

What can influence memories?

Answer 20

They are highly subject to influence by outside information and mood both at the time of encoding and at recall.

Question 21

What is neuroplasticity?

Answer 21

Change in neural connections caused by learning or a response to injury.

Question 22

What is long-term potentiation?

Answer 22

Strengthening of neuronal connections resulting from increased neurotransmitter release and adding of receptor sites – responsible for the conversion of short term to long term memory.