Define learning
the set of biological, cognitive & social processes through which organisms make meaning from their experiences, producing long-lasting changes in their behavior, abilities, & knowledge
Benefit of learning
- helps us predict the future from the past
- using these predictions to guide adaptive behaviors
- approaching new situations with knowledge of similar situations
What are the 2 main forms of non-associative learning shared by all species?
- sensitisation
- habituation
Define sensitisation
the temporary state of heightened attention & responsivity that accompanies sudden & surprising events
Define habituation
the gradual diminishing of attention & responsivity that occurs when a stimulus persists
- no longer considered a threat
Consequence of sensitisation
the learner remains alert to potentially threatening stimuli in the env. & has an increased response to subsequent stimuli
Importance of aplysia in habituation & sensitisation
- learned to associate stimuli in its env. with small electric shocks to its tail
- learned through classical conditioning to withdraw its gill pre-emptively (before the shock was administered)
- has large neurons (good models)
Why is conditioning called associate learning?
learning associations between stimuli &/or between stimuli & behavioural responses
What does classical conditioning involve?
learning a predictive relationship b/w an originally neutral environmental event & a biologically significant event that naturally causes a reflex response, so that the NEUTRAL EVENT becomes able to produce the reflex response on its own
What is a classically conditioned response?
it is a LEARNED REFLEX RESPONSE to a stimulus that would not usually cause it
Give an example of a classically conditioned response
salivation to the sound of a bell (through its association w/ food)
Official definition of classical conditioning
the process of learning an involuntary association b/w a neutral stimulus (NS) & an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) so that the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus that can cause a conditioned reflex response in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus
What are the 3 phases of classical conditioning??
- The conditions that exist before conditioning (before learning) –> normal reflex responses that occur to stimuli that are naturally rewarding or punishing
- During conditioning (learning associations) –> experiencing a predictive relationship
- After conditioning –> previously neutral stimulus able to produce learned reflex response in expectancy of biologically relevant stimulus
What was the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) in Pavlov’s experiments?
Food
it is a biologically significant stimulus that naturally causes a reflex response
What was the unconditioned response (UCR) in Pavlov’s experiments?
salivation response
(reflex response)
What was the initially neutral stimulus (NS) in Pavlov’s experiments?
the bell
a stimulus that does NOT produce the reflex BEFORE conditioning
Is the NS presented first or the UCS?
the NS (neutral stimulus) is presented first
What was the conditioned stimulus (CS) in Pavlov’s experiments?
the bell (after conditioning)
dog establishes a conditioned salivation response when he salivates to the sounds of the bel on its own
What was the conditioned response (CR) after the conditioning process in Pavlov’s experiments?
the salivation response to the bell
When do we know conditioning has occurred?
When the reflex salivation response occurs in response to the formerly neutral stimulus when presented on its own
What is stimulus generalization?
the fact that the classically conditioned salivation response would generalize (transfer) to other similar stimuli
Stimulus discrimination
only responding to a specific “sound” or variation of the conditioned stimulus
What is spontaneous recovery?
presenting the conditioned stimulus after a period of extinction
What is rapid reacquisition?
presenting both stimuli together after a period of extinction
