Learning/ Classical conditioning - Week 1 Flashcards
Associative learning
when TWO unrelated elements/ stimuli (objects, sights, sounds, ideas, behaviours) become connected
e.g., putting a hand on a hot stove, therefore a hot stove is now associated with pain
Non-associative learning
occurs in response to a SINGLE stimuli without reinforcement
- increase in response -> sensitisation
- decrease in response -> habituation
ORIENTING RESPONSE
when you are exposed to a novel stimulus that is unexpected or unpredictable, which orients you
towards the area of interest (move forward, look in the direction) that happens unconsciously
e.g., a dog turned his head towards a loud sound
HABITUATION
it is a decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated presentations.
It involves a decrease in the response’s frequency or amplitude
e.g., noisy fridge simple
**stimulus -> progressive habituation
**complex stimulus -> sensitisation ->
habituation
DISHABITUATION
recovered or restored behavioural response to an old stimulus as of it were a new again
e.g., at the museum looking at the same pic get habituated to it then get interrupted and shift focus then return to the same pic and notice new details
SENSORY ADAPTATION
a reduction in sensitivity to a stimulus after constant exposure to it.
Bottom-up automatic process. Reduced responsiveness can be linked to ‘fatigue’ as our senses tire of responding to the same stimuli
e.g., entering a dark cinema and 10 mins later you can see people in seats; jumping into cold water; perfume
SENSITISATION
a response to a stimulus becomes heightened or more intense after exposure to a strong or aversive stimulus
e.g., a sudden car horn disrupts a sleeping cat (cause an increased heart rate)
DESENSITISATION
decreasing response to repeated stimuli which was previously a sensitized stimulus
e.g., a fearful loud thunderstorm noise
UNCONDITIONED STIMULUS (US)
is a stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without any prior learning.
it elicits an involuntary reaction
e.g., in Pavlov’s the natural and automatic response to the smell and sight of food in salivation, which is the unconditioned response
UNCONDITIONED RESPONSE (UR)
it refers to the automatic and unlearned reaction or response that is naturally triggered by the
presentation of an unconditioned stimulus (US)
e.g., a smell of favourite food, which makes you feel hungry
NATURAL STIMULUS (NS)
it is a natural stimulus that on it’s own, it does NOT elicit a specific or meaningful response. it is initially neutral stimulus because it does NOT naturally trigger the desired behaviour or reaction
e.g., in Pavlov’s experiment the bell was the NS
CONDITIONED STIMULUS (CS)
when the neutral stimulus consistently predicts the arrival of the unconditioned stimulus (US), it becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS)
e.g., after repeatedly pairing the sound of the bell (NS) with the presentation of food (US), the bell became a conditioned stimulus (CS)
CONDITIONED RESPONSE (CR)
learned response to a previously neutral stimuli
e.g., dogs began salivate (CR) when they heard the bell alone, even when food was not present
ACQUISITION OF LEARNING
learning often follows a negatively accelerating curve, which is sometimes referred to as a ‘diminishing returns’ Curve
e.g., as an individual learns new skill, the learning is rapid in the beginning then it gradually slows down
NEGATIVE ACCELERATION CURVE
non-linear: because learning is complex process influenced by various factors, and the rate of learning is not constant asymptote: theoretical limit or point that the learning curve approaches but never quite reaches.
a situation where, despite continuous effort and practice, there is a limit to how much one can improve or how much knowledge or skill one can
acquire in a particular domain
TWO TYPES OF UNCONDITIONED STIMULI (US)
- Appetitive -> is a stimulus that is naturally
rewarding or pleasurable - Aversive -> is a stimulus that is naturally unpleasant or threatening
APPETITIVE (US)
it typically induces positive emotional or physiological responses in an organism
*it is slower and requires greater number of acquisition trials
e.g., food, especially when you are hungry;
e.g., a pleasant sensory experience like a gentle touch or a pleasant smell
AVERSIVE (US)
it typically induces negative emotional of physiological responses in an organism that elicit ‘avoidance’ behaviours or negative emotional responses such as fear, anxiety, escape or efforts to avoid the CS
*it established in one, two or three trials depending on the intensity
e.g., a loud noise;
e.g., an electric shock; pain; bitter taste
STIMULUS SUBSTITUTION THEORY
the conditioned stimulus is able to elicit the same response as unconditioned stimulus.
the CS becomes a substitute for the US
*innate US-UR reflex pathway
e.g., you condition a rat to respond to a whistle as a signal for food then introduce flash light with a whistle then remove whistle and the flash light will elicit the same response
JENKIN AND MOORE (1973) STUDY (SIGN TRACKING)
AutoShaping in pigeons
group 1: CS (light) -> US (grain) pigeons were exposed to a CS, which was a light; when the pigeons pecked at the light (CS), they received a reward of grain (US)
group2: CS (light) -> US (water) pigeons were also exposed to light as the CS, when they pecked at the light they received water (CS) as reward
JENKING AND MOORE (1973) STUDY RESULTS
Group1: tried to eat the lit key (open beak and closed eyes when they pecked)
Group2: exhibited a different behaviour that
appeared as if they were trying to drink the lit key
(closed beak and open eyes when they pecked)
*the pigeon’s brain associate the CS (light) with
the upcoming reward (grain or water) to the point where the CS becomes a substitute or stand in for the US which elicits a response
SIGN TRACKERS
are focused on the predictive cue (CS) - they tend to direct, their attention and behaviour primarily toward the conditioned stimulus (CS), which is often a predictive cue or sign that signals the arrival of a reward or unconditioned stimulus (US)
GOAL TRACKERS
prioritise obtaining the reward (US) - they direct their attention and behaviour primarily toward
the unconditional stimulus (US), which is the actual reward or goal of the conditioning process
SENSITIVITY TO REWARD-ASSOCIATED CUES (SIGN TRACKING AND ADDICTION)
conditioned stimuli (CS) associated with rewards, such as food, alcohol, drugs, can become highly salient and attention grabbing cues. individuals who overeat or are susceptible to addiction may exhibit heightened sensitivity to these cues
