Ch 12 Flashcards
Exploration…
has a strong genetic component. We can also breed for exploration. Animals are motivated to explore for food, resources, shelter etc.
Play…
is seen in most mammalian species. It has been vaguely defined as inefficient behaviour without apparent immediate benefits or clear goals.
Adaptive value of play…
Costs: energy expenditure, risk of injury, possibly attracts predator attention.
Benefits: strengthens muscles, potentiates social learning, competition, emotional expression, multiple skill acquisition
Video games as play…
Not intuitively play-like behaviour. Does involve problem solving and decision making. Imagination is important, a form of mental stimulation and a way to increase arousal.
Lesions to the ________ will reduce play behaviour
ventromedial HT, hippocampus, amygdala, cerebellum, lateral HT… and removal of neocortex
Highest rates of electrical brain stimulation reinforcement in areas…
traversed by the MFB
* Local interference with dopaminergic systems disrupts electrical brain reward
Intense emotions enhance memory…
stress hormones (ACTH, cortisol, adrenaline) present during learning can enhance memory
Activation of ______ during emergency stress response facilitates _________
glucocorticoid receptors; memory consolidation
*sustained activation during chronic stress leads to hippocampal atrophy and memory deficiency
Adrenaline cannot…
cross blood-brain barrier
Glucose hypothesis
adrenaline leads to liberation of stored energy and produces glucose. Neural cells are indirectly influenced, especially in the hippocampus which uses lots of energy
How is adrenaline related to memory enhancement?
Adrenaline indirectly enhances memory through signalling to the NTS and the basolateral amygdala
Conditioned Reinforcement (primary and conditioned)
Primary reinforcers: naturally reward behaviour (food, drink, sex)
Conditioned reinforcers: paired with primary reinforcers (grades, money)
Modelling is like imitation but…
more complex. Someone needs to be demonstrating/teaching something with the intent to be mimicked.
Bandura’s social learning theory and the Bobo doll experiment
children who observe an aggressive model later behave more aggressively than children who observed non-aggressive models .
Vicarious emotional responses
we observe others experiencing emotions, especially romantic and violent ones, and we experience those emotions ourselves.
