1. Learning & Cognition: CC Flashcards
define learning
The set of biological, cognitive & social processes through which organisms make meaning from their experiences. producing long lasting changes in their behaviour, abilities & knowledge
what are the forms of non-associative learning?
sensitisation & habituation
what is sensitisation
temporary state of heightened attention & responsivity that accompanies sudden & surprising events.
- learner remains alert to potentially threatening stimuli in environ & has increased response to subsequent stimuli
what is habituation
gradual diminishing of attention & responsivity that occurs when a stimulus persists
e.x of sensitisation
- there’s a sudden loud sound (not associated w/ anything)
- nervous system is sensitised, natural response = flinch to sound
- system remains SENSITIVE to sounds for a TEMPORARY period of time
e.x of habituation
- jolting noise then hum of aircon
- humming persists, so nervous system becomes UNRESPONSIVE, classifies the hum as NOT THREATENING
- nervous system desensitises & drops the hum to background (focuses on other things instead)
what is phase 1 of classical conditioning
- the conditions that exist before conditioning/learning:
- a neutral stimulus that has not been associated w/ appetitive or aversive stimuli
- the innate reflex of learner that occur to stimuli that are naturally appetitive or aversive
what is phase 2 of classical conditioning?
- during conditioning (learning associations):
- experiencing a predictive r/s b/w a NEUTRAL stimuli & a biologically relevant stimulus
what is phase 3 of classical conditioning?
- after conditioning (test)
- the previously NEUTRAL stimuli becomes able to produce a LEARNED reflex response in preparation (or expectancy) of a biologically relevant stimulus
NS
Neutral stimulus e.g bell
- originally neutral environmental event
UCS
Unconditioned Stimulus e.g dog food
- naturally causes a reflex response (salivation)
UCR
unconditioned response e.g salivation
- reflex response
UCS + UCR = reflex
CS
Conditioned stimulus e.g bell
- no longer NS because it causes a CR that would not usually occur
- previously neutral event, produces a meaningful stimulus
CR
Conditioned response e.g salivation
- a now automatic reflex
define classical conditioning
learning a PREDICTIVE r/s b/w a NEUTRAL stimulus & an UNCONDITIONED stimulus & its UNCONDITIONED response so that the NS becomes a CS that can cause a CR on its own
what is stimulus generalisation?
the extent to which similar CS (similar sounding bells) would generate the same CR (salivation)
what is stimulus discrimination
- learning to discriminate b/w similar things, some PREDICTIVE of an outcome, others DEF not
- if only 1 bell gives food, animal REFINES stimuli to V particular sound, causes distinction to be made, salivation WONT OCCUR FOR ALL BELLS (training it to be precise)
- Extinguish so that only PARTICULAR STIMULI causes a CR
what is spontaneous recovery
when a classically conditioned response comes back after extinction (relapsing)
- under certain conditions & contexts (v. similar to og)
- less likely to occur if conditioning is SPACED OUT & under DIFF CONTEXT
- CR may reappear again after CS is presented after rest period
what is rapid reacquisition?
relearning the CR more quickly than the first time
- retrain association
what is extinction?
when the (CS) is repeatedly presented without the (US), leading to a gradual weakening of (CR)
- learning is NEVER erased, only suppressed by learning a newer association
what is reinforcement?
- strengthening of a behaviour w/ a DESIRABLE outcome (conseq)
- more likely to be repeated by the learner
positive reinforcement
animal learns to produce behaviour if the conseq is RECEIVING SMTH PLEASANT
- positive reinforcer: smth pleasant added to increase behaviour
negative reinforcement
animal will learn to produce a behaviour if coseq. is that SMTH UNPLEASANT will STOP
- negative reinforcer: smth unpleasant is removed to increase behaviour
partial reinforcement
- food comes out ONLY SOMETIMES, happens regularly enough for rat to learn r/s
- rat keeps pressing lever JUST IN CASE food comes out next time
- leads to more persistent learning, learner becomes accustomed to reinforcement occurring on SOME occasions & NOT OTHERS
continuous reinforcement
- e.g food comes out every time lever is pressed
- leads to rapid extinction once reinforcer is withheld
