learning Flashcards
when does learning occur
when an individual behaves in a more adaptive way because of experience
what are the three salient points of learning?
- A change in overt behavior indicates that learning occurred
- Experience is responsible for the change
- The changes benefits the animal
what is the simplest type of learning?
habituation
what is a long term stimulus?
Specific waning of a response, or learning not to respond to stimuli
define habituation
Animal stops responding to a specific neural stimulus
example of habituation
Horse habituates to feel of halter on head
what is a human example of habituation
We habituate to the feel of glasses on our head
why is habituation useful for horses?
Useful to try and desensitize horses to sound of crowds
◼ Shows ◼ Sales
what is an example of habituation with a pig
pig soon ignores sparkler over feeder
define associative learning
Learning brought about by positive or negative re-inforcers
what are the two types of associative learning
operant conditioning
classical conditioning
what is the difference between operant and classical conditioning
◼ Operant conditioning – animal has some control over what is happening
◼ Classical conditioning – it does not
which conditioning is signal learning
classical conditioning
classical conditioning was first demonstrated by Pavlov in dogs. what was the unconditioned stimulus (UCS), response (R), and conditioned stimulus (CS)?
UCS- sight of meat
R- salivation
CS- metronome
in classical conditioning, stimuli are paired repeatedly until:
conditioned stimuli alone elicits the response
with pavlov’s dogs, when did the dogs start to salivate?
when it hears the metronome
how can you classically condition milk letdown?
Release of oxytocin in response to jangling of milk equipment
◼ Sounds of approaching machinery will be paired with milking process
◼ Noises elicit oxytocin release
what is the UCS and CS of a pet at the vet?
USC- Cat responds to painful stimulus with fear or escape response
CS- staff
true or false: Does not take many pairings of stimuli to produce a fear response whenever the animal encounters the conditioned stimulus
true
what type of conditioning is instrumental learning
operant
define instrumental learning
Behavior is the instrument by which reinforcement is obtained
instrumental learning was first demonstrated by Thorndike using cats. Hungry cats were placed in a box within sight and smell of food. At first cats struggled vigorously to get the food. How did some of the cats opened the box door?
pulled latch string by chance
In Thorndike’s study, cats were free to eat, what happened each time the cats were placed in a box?
◼ Took shorter time to escape with fewer extraneous motions
◼ Until it pulled the latch string immediately upon being placed in the box
what is a skinner box
Lab example of instrumental learning
example of a skinner box
Rat presses bar to obtain food, water, electrical stimulation
what are some examples of operant conditioning on farms and homes?
◼ Swine can use electronic feeders
◼ Horses use automatic waterers
◼ Food dispensed when cat or dog presses level
define chaining
Performance of a series of operant responses in sequences
how was chaining used to train goats to do what?
◼ Jump 3 hurdles
◼ Walk on raised walkway
◼ Pass through 2 barrels
◼ Press lever 10 times