ch 7- learning Flashcards
learning
a lasting change caused by experience
associative learning
involves forming associations between stimuli.
–> classical conditioning
–> operant conditionin
non-associative learning
does not involve forming associations between stimuli.
2 major types of non-associative learning
- habituation (simplest type of learning)
- sensitization
habituation
A form of non-associative learning
Repeated presentation of a stimulus leads to a reduction in response
dishabituation
A form of non-associative learning
Recovery of attention to a NOVEL STIMULUS following habituation (e.g. new sound)
sensitization
a form of non-associative learning
A strong stimulus results in an exaggerated response to the subsequent presentation of weaker stimuli
conditioning
the association of events in the environment
classical conditioning
a form of associative learning between two previously unrelated stimuli that results in a learned response
natural reflex
automatic involuntary response that typically occurs without learning
unconditioned stimulus (US)
a stimulus that on its own elicits a response.
unconditioned response (UR)
a physical response elicited by an unconditioned stimulus; it does not need to be learned.
conditioned stimulus (CS)
a neutral stimulus that eventually elicits the same response as an unconditioned stimulus with which it has been paired
conditioned response (CR)
a physical response elicited by a conditioned stimulus; it is acquired through experience and is usually the same as the unconditioned response.
US produces
UR
CS + US produces
UR
CS produces
CR
Example of a human being classically conditioned
When your roommate is in a really good mood (US), you are happy (UR).
You don’t dislike this song, but you have no real attachment to it.
Your roommate repeatedly plays this song (CS) when he is in a really good mood (US).
Eventually the song alone causes you to feel happy (CR). You have been classically conditioned
stimulus generalization
occurs when stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus trigger the same conditioned response
ex. bell noise is slightly different. adapted for survival; rustling of bushes won’t sound the same each time
stimulus discrimination
occurs when an organism learns to emit a specific behaviour in the presence of a conditioned stimulus, but not in the presence of stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus
ex. hearing the specific tone of someone’s voice
higher order conditioning
occurs when a previously conditioned stimulus functions as if it were an unconditioned stimulus for further conditioning
ex. bell+doorhandle+food
can take away bell and now the doorhandle will be the stimulus
extinction
reduction of a conditioned response after repeated presentations of the conditioned stimulus alone
ex. bell rings but no food= dog loses interest
spontaneous recovery
re-emergence of a conditioned response sometime after extinction has occurred
ex. bell + food= CR occurs bc of previous learning