Language and Learning

Question 1

History of Language

Answer 1

larynx changed locations ~ 300,000 years ago
we have more sounds BUT greater vulnerability of choking
speech gene evolved by natural selection 100,000-200,000 years ago

Question 2

Lateralization issues with language

Answer 2

Left - language in most people (~95%)
Right - narrative speech, map reading, prosody and also language
Left handedness - ~10% of population (excel in visual spatial analysis

Question 3

Aphasia

Answer 3

loss of ability to understand or express speech caused by brain injury
can occur in those who are deaf

Question 4

Broca’s Aphasia

Answer 4

“broken, non-fluent”
anterior to motor cortex = impaired speech production
expressive aphasia
worsens with anxiety or added pressure
folks are generally aware they have it
“BMF” broca motor frontal AND broken words

Question 5

Wernicke’s Aphasia

Answer 5

“fluent”
posterior portion of temporal lobe and by the primary auditory cortex = impaired comprehension
receptive aphasia
impaired language comprehension
often unaware
“Wacky words” (Wernicke’s)

Question 6

Global aphasia

Answer 6

impairment in both expressive and receptive

Question 7

Learning

Answer 7

acquisition of new information
refers to the process by which experiences change our nervous system and our behaviors
3 stages

Question 8

stage 1 of learning

Answer 8

Sensory information
info is first processed through our senses
< 1 second

Question 9

stage 2 of learning

Answer 9

short term memory
meaningful/salient information
< 1 minute
can be supported via repetition or chunking (7+/-2 Rule)

Question 10

7+/-2 rule

Answer 10

we can remember 7 + or - 2 things at a time

Question 11

stage 3 of learning

Answer 11

long term memory
short term memories are converted into long term memories = consolidation (made solid)
can be retrieved across a lifetime
increased retrieval = strengthens a memory
hippocampus

Question 12

consolidation

Answer 12

when short term memories are converted into long term memories

Question 13

types of learning

Answer 13

stimulus-response learning
motor learning
perceptual learning
observational learning

Question 14

stimulus response learning

Answer 14

perform behaviors when stimulus is presented
classical conditioning
operant conditioning

Question 15

classical conditioning brain parts involved

Answer 15

amygdala
hippocampus
thalamus

Question 16

operant conditioning brain parts involved

Answer 16

positive/negative reinforcement/punishment
mesolimbic and mesocortical system (supports learning)
basal ganglia (takes over action as “over learned motor behaviors”)

Question 17

motor learning

Answer 17

learning a skilled task and then practicing with a goal in mind until the skill is executed automatically
moving an action from the conscious to unconscious
Basal ganglia

Question 18

perceptual learning

Answer 18

when repeated exposure enhances the ability to discriminate between 2+ otherwise confusable stimuli (knowing not all animals with 4 legs are dogs)
allows us to identify and categorize objects
prior experiences influence our perception of stimuli
confirmation bias and attribution bias

Question 19

Observational learning

Answer 19

“social learning theory”
process of learning by watching the behaviors of models
can occur via operant conditioning and vicarious conditioning (if you see your sister get in trouble for something you might not do that same action)
anti social and pro social modeling

Question 20

pro social modeling

Answer 20

prompts engagement in helpful and healthy bx

Question 21

anti social modeling

Answer 21

prompt others to engage in aggressive or unhealthy bx (Bandura and Bo Bo doll = aggression)

Question 22

social learning theory

Answer 22

attention –> retention –> production –> motivation (positive or negative)

Question 23

we are more likely to mimic …

Answer 23

positive perception (liked or high status)
shared (perceived) traits
standing out (per culture some cultures want to conform so they wont copy folks who stand out and vise versa)
familiarity
self-efficacy in mimicry

Question 24

mirror neurons

Answer 24

brain cell that respond equally when performing an action and when we witness someone else perform the same action (and hearing)
enables: empathy, skill building through mimicry, vicarious experiences
essential for social interactions (lower numbers in psychopathy and ASD)

Question 25

learning styles

Answer 25

no evidence that learning styles exist

Question 26

evidence exists for … (referring to learning)

Answer 26

interleaving spaced learning
writing rather than typing
studying in natural lighting
power naps (caffeine hack)
context-dependent learning

Question 27

evidence exists for … (referring to learning)

Answer 27

interleaving spaced learning
writing rather than typing
studying in natural lighting
power naps (caffeine hack)
context-dependent learning