Behavioral Sciences Chapter 3: Learning and Memory Flashcards
Define habituation.
The process of becoming used to a stimulus
Define dishabituation.
Resensitization to original stimulus when a second stimulus intervenes
What is associative learning?
Pairing together stimuli and responses, or behaviors and consequences
What is classical conditioning?
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.
What is operant conditioning?
behavior is changed through the use of consequences.
What is the difference between reinforcement and punishment?
reinforcement - increases the likelihood of the behavior
punishment - decreases the likelihood of the behavior
How does the schedule of reinforcement affect the rate at which the behavior is performed?
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.
What is observational learning?
Also called modeling. This is the aquisition of behavior by watching others.
What is encoding?
Encoding is the process of putting new information into memory. It can be automatic or effortful.
What type of coding is the strongest?
Semantic encoding is stronger than both acoustic and visual encoding.
What does working memory require?
short-term memory, attention and executive function to manipulate information.
What is similar between sensory and short-term memory?
Transient and are based on neurotransmitter activity.
What does long term memory require?
elaborative rehearsal and is the result of increased neuronal connectivity.
What does explicit (declarative) memory store?
facts and stories
What does implicit (nondeclarative) memory store?
skills and conditioning effects
How are facts stored?
Semantic networks
Which is stronger - recognition or recall?
Recognition
What is retrieval of information based on?
priming interconnected nodes of the semantic network
How can memories be lost?
Disorders such as: Alzheimer’s disease, Korsakoff’s syndrome; decay; or interference
What can influence memories?
They are highly subject to influence by outside information and mood both at the time of encoding and at recall.
What is neuroplasticity?
Change in neural connections caused by learning or a response to injury.
What is long-term potentiation?
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.
