learning 1 Flashcards
define unconditioned stimulus (US)
- biologically significant stimulus that elicits reflexive (unlearned response)
e.g.: food, shock
define unconditioned response (UR)
- reflexive (unlearned) response elicited by a stimulus
define conditioned stimulus (CS)
- previously neutral stimulus
- after being paired with unconditioned stimuli
- elicits conditioned response
define conditioned response
- response elicited by the conditioned stimulus
what is Hebb’s rule?
repeated transmission of impulses
between two neurones
this strengthens link between neurones
define cell assemblies
neurones from patterns where they reactivate each other
define phase sequences
where cell assemblies can become associated
then they can activate each other
identify two mediating factors of classical conditioning
1/ salience
2/ contiguity
explain how salience is a mediating factor
- salience refers to the strength between conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus
- this affects the rate of learning
explain how contiguity is a mediating factor
- how quickly does the stimuli follow each other
- if conditioned stimuli immediately follows unconditioned stimuli, learning is quicker
what is extinction?
- how quickly the pairing between stimuli can drop off
- involved presenting conditioned stimuli alone (no unconditioned stimuli)
- results in weakening of CR
what is acquisition?
rate at which individual learns something
what is spontaneous recovery?
- where conditioned response reappears after extinction and rest
what is stimulus generalisation?
- stimuli that is similar to the conditioned stimulus and elicits a conditioned response
what is stimulus discrimination?
the ability to distinguish different stimuli and respond differently
explain high-order conditioning
- stimulus that has been established as a conditioned stimulus
- paired with a neutral stimulus
- after pairing, neutral stimulus elicits conditioned response
what applications does classical conditioning have?
- taste aversion
- eye-blink conditioning
- fear research - Little Albert
outline little Albert study
11 month old infant, no fear of animals, but didn’t like loud noises.
White rat put in front of him as steel bar struck.
After 7 pairings, Albert would cry at sight of rat.
Later also afraid of rabbit, fur coat and dog.
what therapy uses the principles of classical conditioning?
exposure therapy
patient exposed to feared stimulus without consequences
results in extinction of CR
how does advertising use the principles of classical conditioning?
- pairing product (CS) with pleasant stimulus (US)
- results in product being rated more favourably
what type of learning is classical conditioning?
- passive
- involuntary
- associative
