Exam 1 Flashcards
Descartes
Not all human behavior is governed by free will - humans also respond involuntarily to external stimuli (Dualism) - Animals have no free will
Nativism
Knowledge is predetermined from birth
Empiricism
Knowledge is acquired from experiences
Modal action patterns
Response sequence specific to a particular species - elicited by a specific stimulus
Reflex arc
Sensory Neuron -> Interneuron -> Motor Neuron
Appetitive Behavior
Early components of a behavior sequence - done to bring an organism into contact with a stimulus (less stereotyped)
Consummatory Behavior
End components of contact with a stimulus - chewing, copulating, or hitting (more stereotyped)
Habituation
Decrease in strength of response to repeated presentation of the same stimulus - specific to repeated stimulus of low intensity
Sensitization
Increase in responding to repeated presentation - Not stimulus specific/generalizes and is high intensity
Dishabituation
Instantly making habituation disappear (pair something with a stronger stimulus)
Opponent Process Theory
Homeostatic theory of emotional behavior. Based on neurophysiological mechanisms, potential role in mood disorders, primary process (a) is balanced by opponent process (b). B process lags behind and is not always as strong as the A process, 2 processes are added together to form visible emotional state. When stimulus causing A process is removed, net result is B process driving the entire emotional response (after effect).
Drug tolerance
While opponent process theory does not necessarily explain emotional state, it does apply to drug tolerance.
Pavlov
Originally studied to learn about digestion. Technicians noticed an increase in stomach juice secretion at the sight of food or even the person who fed him.
Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
A stimulus that naturally triggers a response
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
An originally irrelevant stimulus that after association with the US, comes to trigger a conditioned response.
Unconditioned Response (UR)
The naturally occurring response to the US
Conditioned Response (CR)
The learned response to the previously neutral CS
Fear conditioning procedures
The pairing of an initially neutral stimulus with an aversive fear eliciting stimulus.
Suppression Ratio
(CS Responding)/(CS Responding + pre-cs Responding)
Measurement of Fear
Measured by freezing or suppression of other behavior
Eyeblink Conditioning
UR- eye blink to puff of air. CR- eye blink to tone, light, etc (CS). Slow to acquire and CR An attempt to condition a reflex.
Sign Tracking
Approaching stimuli that signal food, water, conspecifics, etc. CS generally has to be discrete, localized, and visual.
Taste Aversion
Learning an aversion to a novel CS (food/water) that is followed by a US that makes the organism sick. Brain is hard-wired to not eat something following becoming sick.
Short Delayed Procedures
CS starts and the US is presented later. The CS and US must overlap for any period of time. Most effective for learning.
