Learning

Question 1

Hallmark of living organisms

Answer 1

learning and acting on expectations

Question 2

How do we and other species accomplish learning?

Answer 2

We make predictions!

we use rats especially–lots of animals used for research basic living processes

Question 3

to be good at learning about world:

Answer 3

Need to be able to respond change/hardware for detecting change (food, threat, etc)
Ability to make predictions (pavlovian software)
Operate (skinnerian software)

Question 4

basic hardware components:

Answer 4

Sensory system, reflex, habituation

Question 5

Sensory system

Answer 5

(ability to detect shape, color, temp, smell, etc)/ability to discriminate stimuli

Question 6

Reflex:

Answer 6

hardwired stimulus response circuits

Not learned, evolved

Question 7

Habituation:

Answer 7

the circuit breaker/overcoming the reflex

We get used to something and we stop responding (ex: food)

Question 8

classical conditioning

Answer 8

how to be good at making predictions (pavlov)/Classical conditioning involves associating an involuntary response and a stimulus
components:
prediction
generalization 
blocking
latent inhibition
extinction
spontaneous recovery

Question 9

prediction

Answer 9

learn associations
Rat seeing cheese=salivate w/o learning
cheese=unconditioned stimulus
Unconditioned response=reflex
If light flashes pre feeding always, rat salivates w light
light=conditioned stimulus, salivate=conditioned response
Humans conditioned for money, pizza boxes…

Question 10

unconditioned response

Answer 10

reflex

Question 11

generalization

Answer 11

Learn sloppily: generalization
Basic learning processes–learning sloppily is good bc it allows us to generalize to other things
Can extrapolate–if afraid of one cat, afraid of other cats, extends to other similar things
Little albert overgeneralized=clanging noise associated with rats, hes afraid of all furry things

Question 12

blocking

Answer 12

Learn sparingly: blocking
One pattern of relationships, not many
If light and melody pre feeding always, and the rat only learned about light before, the rat won’t respond to sound alone
First association blocks second association

Question 13

latent inhibition

Answer 13

Learn slowly: latent inhibition
Dont want to learn things that arent good guide–want more than one instance
No food only flash light; then flash precedes food; if something wasnt good predictor before, harder to internalize it as predictor in future

Question 14

extinction

Answer 14

Unlearn slowly: (hard to unlearn) extinction
Process where previously learned association weakened when pattern breaks
If food doesnt appear post light anymore, takes rat a while to realize

Question 15

spontaneous recovery

Answer 15

Relearn quickly: spontaneous recovery

Respond

Question 16

Operant conditioning–

Answer 16

organisms can cause these changes in environment as a result of predicting what causes positive results
operant conditioning is about associating a voluntary behavior and a consequence. In operant conditioning, the learner is also rewarded with incentives, while classical conditioning involves no such enticements.

Question 17

Law of effect–

Answer 17

repeat what works, Edward Thorndike: if an association is followed by a “satisfying state of affairs” it will be strengthened and if it is followed by an “annoying state of affairs” it will be weakened

Question 18

Thorndike puzzle box–

Answer 18

cat solves puzzle to get out of box–reward selects behavioral mutations, learns to press pedal

Question 19

Bf skinner =

Answer 19

skinner box, mold rats behavior based on reward and punishment operant conditioning (wanted to improve humanity thru behaviorism)

Question 20

Optimize responses:

Answer 20

schedule of reinforcement

Different patterns of reinforcement we might get–influences our response patterns

Question 21

Varieties of reinforcement

Answer 21

continuous–EVERY TIME but things are rarely perfectly reliable irl
Partial

Question 22

ratio

Answer 22

reward function of number of times animal performed action

Question 23

interval

Answer 23

function of how long since last reward

Question 24

fixed

Answer 24

ratio or interval always same

Question 25

variable

Answer 25

ratio or interval averages to certain value

Question 26

which variety of reinforcement is most effective?

Answer 26

fixed ratio

Question 27

Behaviorism–

Answer 27

idea that all behavior is result of learning…completely discredited today even tho it is basis of some important stuff
Behaviorists didnt think point in discussing things we can’t readily observe–only reinforcement
Even flavor preference would be result of conditioning
(blank slate hypothesis, discredited)

Question 28

biological preparedness hypothesis

Answer 28

Operant conditioning is real but isn’t everything– people and animals are inherently inclined to form associations between certain stimuli and responses.