LEARNING AND MEMORY

Question 1

What is learning

Answer 1

The process by which experiences change our nervous system and hence our behaviour

Question 2

What is memory

Answer 2

Is an organisms ability to store,retain, and subsequently retrieve information

Question 3

What are the 2 types of learning

Answer 3

• Non-associative= habituation, sensitisation

- Associative = classical conditioning, operant (instrumental ) conditioning

Question 4

What are the stages of learning and memory

Answer 4

• Acquisition=registered input
• Encoding = processing incoming information
• Consolidation= creates stronger representation
• Storage =results of acquisition and consolidation
• Retrieval = use of stored information

Question 5

What is habituation

Answer 5

Reduction in response to an event

Question 6

What is sensitisation

Answer 6

Increased responsiveness to an event

Question 7

What are the classes stimuli and response in classical learning

Answer 7

• unconditioned stimulus -stimulus and response are closely linked and occur unconditionally together
• conditioned stimulus- stimulus is not linked to response but response becomes trained to occur with stimulus

Question 8

What is associative learning

Answer 8

Learning to automatically make a particular response in the presence of a particular stimulus- this includes classical and instrumental conditioning

Question 9

What is extinction

Answer 9

A decline of a conditioned response when a conditioned stimulus repeatedly occurs without the presence of the unconditioned stimulus it was paired with - IS NOT FORGETTING

Question 10

What is operant (instrumental ) conditioning

Answer 10

All behaviour is followed by a consequence and the nature of that consequence modifies the organisms tendency. To repeat the behaviour in the future.

Question 11

What is reinforcement

Answer 11

Event that increases the future probability of the response

Question 12

What is punishment

Answer 12

Event that suppresses the frequency of the response

Question 13

What are the types of reinforcement schedules

Answer 13

• continuous
• fixed ratio
• fixed interval
• variable schedule

Question 14

What is positive reinforcement

Answer 14

Behaviour response is followed by a favourable stimulus to increase behaviour

Question 15

What is negative reinforcement

Answer 15

Behaviour response is followed by removal of an aversive stimulus to increase behaviour

Question 16

What is positive punishment

Answer 16

Behaviour response is followed by an aversive stimulus to decrease behaviour

Question 17

What is negative punishment

Answer 17

Behaviour response is followed by removal of a favourable stimulus to decrease behaviour

Question 18

What is imprinting

Answer 18

Any kind of phase sensitive learning

Question 19

What is social learning

Answer 19

Learning from or abut other members of a social group

Question 20

What is latent learning

Answer 20

Learning about the characteristics of a situation

Question 21

What does Hebb rule state

Answer 21

That learning involves strengthening of a synapse that is repeatedly active when the post synaptic neuron fires

Question 22

What is long-term potentiation (LTP)

Answer 22

The long-lasting enhancement in communication between neurons that results from stimulating their affronts with high frequency

Question 23

What is long-term depression (LTD)

Answer 23

Weakening of a neural synapse due to the persistent weak (low frequency) synaptic stimulation

Question 24

What is the role of NMDA receptors for LTP

Answer 24

• NMDA receptors= one of the main types of glutamate receptors
• NMDA receptors blocked by magnesium
• postsynaptic depolarisation (due to AMPA receptor not being blocked) ejects the magnesium and the channel is free
• In the presence of the presynaptic glutamate, Ca ions can enter the cell