L9 - Models of Associative Learning Flashcards

1
Q

Signal validity

A

We get good learning if the CS is a valid predictor of the US and over and above the presence of the others.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Wagner et al:

A

Signal validity, shift away from behaviourist thinking

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Wagner Experiment to show relative signal validity

A

3 conditions

  • Tone + Light = US
  • Tone + Light and just light, both = US
  • T + L and Light + nothing both = US
  • 2nd result very similar to blocking weak conditioning
  • 3rd condition the best response as it shows clearly T is needed for US, light on its own shows nothing

Issues with experiment: animals may habituate, not perfectly controlled for

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Wagner Experiment 2

A

2 groups:

  • Correlated (T1 + L = US) (T2 + L = nothing)
  • Uncorrelated (T1 and T2 + L both lead to US 50% of the time)

Both groups are given an equal number of L- US pairings (50%) but different in terms of signal validity of accompanying tones

Results:

  • Light you don’t learn much about in condition 1, in condition 2 you learn lots
  • Condition 1 you don’t as it is being blocked by T1
  • Condition 2 - reason for good condition to the light is because it is present more often so therefore it will be relatively speaking a more valid signal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Mackintosh

A

Variations in conditioning reflect variations in attention to CS

Animals have limited attention resources: must be shared, we can’t take everything from our env in, we have selective attention

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Mackintosh Experiment

Conditioned suppression to light

A

3 conditions:

  • Light + US
  • Light + noise
  • Light + Loud Noise

Variations in attention will occur because the noise in the 3rd condition is very salient, so will capture our attention a lot, suppression ratio closer to 0.5 for light (less learning to light)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Other than intensity what else is attention to CS determined by?

A

Importance, attention decreases if the animal learns there is a better predictor of US
Blocking is an example of this, first CS is seen as more important.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Wagner Importance Experiment

A

3 Conditions:

  • T + L - US
  • T + L - US, L - US
  • T + L - US, L - Nothing

Conditioning to T determined by attention devoted to L, condition 2 had a lot of attention to L, condition 3 had little so most conditioning to T

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Kamin

A

US must be surprising, animals won’t learn anything on a trial in which all events are fully expected

Learning is a process by which we revise what we know about the external world whenever our expectations differ from what actually happens

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Surprising theory explaining blocking experiment

A

Nothing is learned in a blocking design because US is fully anticipated (as signally by pre-trained CS)

Condition:
- N - US, then N+L - US

○ Because noise fully predicts the shock the US is not unsurprising when the N+L leads to shock
However when just N+L leads to shock without prior learning this is a shock so more is learnt

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What theory does the Rescorla Wagner Model back?

A

Model basically an equation capturing the idea that learning occurs when something surprises us

(Kamin’s theory)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

The Rescorla Wagner Model

A

Describes when animals learn associations between CS and US and how fast learning occurs.

Learning is determined by the discrepancy between the experience of the US and how much it was expected (prediction error)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

In the RWM the amount of learning equals

A

how much the strength of the CS-US association changes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly