Chapter 7: Learning & Adaptation

Question 1

Learning

Answer 1

process where experience produces an enduring change in an organism’s behaviour

Question 2

3 types of Learning

Answer 2

• Event-Alone = Habituation
• Event-Event = Classical/Pavlovian
• Behaviour-Event = Operant/Instrumental

Question 3

Habituation

Answer 3

• Respond less strongly from repeated stimuli
• simple form of learning

Question 4

Sea Slugs

Answer 4

discovered biological mechanism of Habituation

Question 5

Sensitization

Answer 5

• opposite of habituation
• increase in strength of response to repeated stimuli
• think of becoming more sensitive

Question 6

Specificity

Answer 6

• Habituation is highly specific
• Sensitization is often not specific

Question 7

Pavlov

Answer 7

discovered classical conditioning while studying animals

Question 8

Pavlov’s dogs

Answer 8

1. bell was rung then fed the dogs
2. dogs salivate when they heard the bell
   - sound of the bell caused salivation

Question 9

Classical Conditioning

Answer 9

Learning where a Neutral Stimulus (NS) signals Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
- i.e. bell signals food

Question 10

After Classical Conditioning

Answer 10

Conditioned stimulus (CS) signals a Conditioned Response (CR)

Question 11

Unconditioned Stimulus

Answer 11

• biologically significant stimulus that already has a response associated
• i.e. food, pain
• more intense, easier to produce a CR

Question 12

Conditioned Stimulus

Answer 12

Previously NS that becomes the CS to elicit a CR
- i.e. bell

Question 13

Conditioned Response

Answer 13

• the response of a stimuli (NS or US)
• i.e. dogs salivating

Question 14

Acquisition

Answer 14

Period during which association is being learned

Question 15

Association

Answer 15

relationship between 2 stimuli

Question 16

2 types of Unconditioned Stimulus

Answer 16

Appetitive: pleasant stimulus i.e. food, play
Aversive: unpleasant stimulus
i.e. darkness, loud sounds

Question 17

Types of CS-US Pairings

Answer 17

Forward Short-Delay
Forward Trace
Simultaneous
Backward

Question 18

Forward Short-Delay

Answer 18

• CS still present when US presented (overlap)
• optimal learning

Question 19

Forward Trace

Answer 19

• CS then US after (no overlap)
• 2nd best learning

Question 20

Simultaneous

Answer 20

• CS and US presented at the same time
• slower learning

Question 21

Backward

Answer 21

• CS presented after US
• very little learning

Question 22

Extinction

Answer 22

• process in which CS is presented in absence of US
• i.e. bell rang and food not given
• CR weakens = bell stops causing salivation in dogs

Question 23

Spontaneous Recovery

Answer 23

• CS presented again after extinction and CR reappears in a weaker form

Question 24

Stimulus Generalization

Answer 24

Once a CS has been established, similar stimuli can produce a CR
i.e. different pitches of the bell

Question 25

Stimulus Discrimination

Answer 25

CR occurs to one stimulus but not another
i.e. only a specific pitch

Question 26

Higher order Conditioning

Answer 26

chain of events involving 2 CS stimuli
i.e. conditioning can occur without a US

Question 27

Systematic Desensitization

Answer 27

Relaxation paired with gradual exposure to fear-inducing stimulus

Question 28

Flooding

Answer 28

Exposure to fearful stimulus

Question 29

Operant (Instrumental) Conditioning

Answer 29

Learning controlled by consequences of the organisms behaviour