Learning & Memory Flashcards
what is behaviourism?
the theory that psychology can be objectively studied through observable action. The idea that all behaviours are learnt through an interaction with the environment
what is classical conditioning?
a process of learning through involuntary associations between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus that results in a conditioned response
what is a stimulus?
event which causes a response (sound, smell, visual, temperature, object)
what happens in the before conditioning phase CC?
-The neutral stimulus has no associations and therefore doesn’t produce any significant response
-Unconditioned stimulus provides an unconscious response
-The unconditioned response is the naturally occurring behaviour in response to a stimulus
what happens in the during conditioning phase CC?
- the neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with the unconditioned stimulus which produces an unconditioned response
- sometimes the pairing is emotionally significant and therefore only takes one pairing
- The neutral stimulus must be presented first remaining until the unconditioned stimulus is presented within ½ a second
what happens in the after conditioning phase CC?
- The neutral stimulus has become the conditioned stimulus producing a conditioned response
- The conditioned stimulus is originally the neutral stimulus that produces a conditioned response after being repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus (NS -> CS)
- The conditioned response occurs involuntarily after the conditioned stimulus is presented, it is the learnt response after classical conditioning has taken place
what is operant conditioning?
Suggests that learning occurs through interacting with the external environment
what is the antecedent?
the stimulus or event that precedes and often elicits a particular behaviour, AKA ‘discriminative stimulus’
what is the behaviour?
the voluntary actions that occur in the presence of the antecedent, the learner plays an active role in the action.
what is the consequence?
the outcome of the behaviour, which determines the likelihood that it will occur again
what is a reinforcement?
consequence that increases the likelihood of a behaviour reoccurring
what is a punishment?
a consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behaviour reoccurring
what is a positive reinforcement?
the addition of a desirable stimulus, which increases the likelihood of a behaviour occurring
what is a negative reinforcement?
the removal of an undesirable consequence which, increases the likelihood of a behaviour reoccurring
what is a positive punishment?
the addition of an undesirable stimulus, which decreases the likelihood of a behaviour occurring
what is a negative punishment?
the removal of a desirable stimulus, which decreases the likelihood of a behaviour reoccurring
what are similarities between operant conditioning and CC?
- Both are behaviourist approaches to learning,
- that all behaviours are learnt through environmental interaction
- both are 3 phase processes of learning
What are differences between operant conditioning and CC
operant conditioning involves voluntary learning behaviour whereas classical conditioning involves learning as an involuntary behaviour
- learners are active during operant conditioning whereas learners are passive during classical conditioning
- operant conditioning requires a consequence whereas no consequence is needed during classical conditioning
what is observational learning?
Process of learning that involves watching the behaviour of a model and the associated consequence of that behaviour
what type of learning is observational learning?
social-cognitive approach
what is a model?
the individual who is performing the behaviour that the learner observes, in this way it can also be referred to modelling
what are the types of models?
live model, verbal model, symbolic model
what are the stages of observational learning?
attention, retention, reproduction, motivation, reinforcement
what happens in the attention stage?
Learner allocates cognitive energy and effort to notice the intricate details of the models behaviour
what happens in the retention stage?
Learner stores the mental representation (memory) in their long term memory (LTP) for later use
what happens in the reproduction stage?
Individual evaluates whether they have the physical or mental capabilities to replicate the behaviour, If the learner deems, they don’t have the capabilities the process stops
what happens in the motivation stage?
Individual must have a desire/ want to complete the behaviour, therefore there must be a positive consequence or reward
what happens in the reinforcement stage?
The individual receives a positive consequence making them more likely to produce that behaviour in the future
what is memory?
the process of encoding, storing and retrieving information that has been acquired through learning
what is encoding?
conversion of sensory information into a useable form so that it can be neurologically represented (manipulation of stimuli)
what is storage?
retention of the encoded information over time
what is retrival?
recovery of stored information for use when needed
what is the atkinson shiffrin multi-store model of memory?
Considers memory as a system with three distinct stores which interact to encode, store and retrieve information
what is sensory memory?
-The entry point for memory, as it is detected by your senses. Briefly stores raw information detected by the senses
-This form isn’t recognised by the brain
what is iconic memory?
all visual sensory register in its raw form
what is echoic memory?
All auditory goes into the hearing sensory register
what is short term memory?
Store of memory that holds limited information that is consciously attended to and manipulated
what is long term memory?
memories have been encoded to a useable form, not consciously aware of memories in our LTM
-can be retrieved back into our STM
what is displacement?
when information in the STM is pushed out by new incoming information
what is decay?
when information fades away on its own after the duration of the STM has expired
what is chunking?
when information fades away on its own after the duration of the STM has expired (chunks) these chunks are more meaningful. Chunking can increase the capacity of the STM
what is mantinence rehersal?
rote repetition, repetition of information over and over again
what is elaborative rehearsal?
linking and organising new information with existing information (more effective rehearsal method)
what are strengths of the AS memory model?
distinguishes between different stores involved in memory
- outlines each store’s capacity and duration
- findings of studies support STM and LTM distinction
what are limitations of the AS memory model?
– STM is more complex than the model suggests
- ignore factors such as motivation and strategy
- Transferring into the LTM can occur without rehearsal
- the model doesn’t account for individual differences in memory
what is explicit memory?
a type of long term memory, declarative memories as they can be declared or stated to someone else
Two types of explicit memory: semantic memory, episodic memory
what is semantic memory?
Consists of general knowledge or facts
what is episodic memory?
Consists of personal experiences or events, Unique to each individual and their own personal experiences
what is implicit memory?
Type of LTM that is unconsciously retrieved,
what is classically conditioned memory?
Involuntary response that is usually emotionally charged, Retrieved involuntarily and can be reflexive
what is procedural memory?
Involves knowing how to carry out tasks that are facilitated by motor skills
what are autobiographical events?
personally lived events that have occurred to us at some time in our lives
what are possible imagined futures?
hypothetical experiences and situations that an individual has the ability to create and conceptualise in their mind
what memories are involved in constructing possible imagined futures?
episodic and semantic
what brain structure is important for possible imagined futures?
hippocampus
what is Alzheimers?
Neurodegenerative disease characterised by the progressive loss of neurons in the brain causing memory decline
what is retrograde amnesia?
older autobiographical events, effecting most recent events and eventually impacting the oldest memories
what is anterograde amnesia?
trouble forming new memories of recent events
what are amyloid plagues?
-Fragments of the protein beta-amyloid that accumulates into insoluble plagues
-Inhibit communication between neurons
what are neurofibrillary tangles?
-Accumulation of the protein tau that forms insoluble tangles within neurons
-Then inhibit the transportation of essential substances
-Eventually kills the neuron entirely
what is aphantasia?
- A phenomenon in which individuals lack the capacity to generate mental imagery
what are mneumonics?
devices or techniques used to aid the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information
what are written traditions?
practices in which knowledge, stories and customs are preserved and shared primarily through reading and writing
what are acronyms?
the first letters of items form a pronounceable word
what are acrostics?
mnemonic device in which the first letters of items create a phrase, rhyme or poem to aid memory
what is method of loci?
device that converts items into mental images and associates them with specific locations to aid memory, involving visualising items in specific well-known locations
what are the written traditions?
acronyms, acrostics, method of loci
what are oral traditions?
practices in which knowledge, stories, and customs are preserved and shared through spoken word and movement
what are sung narratives?
stories that share important cultural, ecological and survival information through the use of singing, harmony and rhythm
what are songlines?
a type of sung narrative that is a multimodal performance conducted as a family or community travels through country and spaces in the landscape
how do songlines aid memory?
- Vivid narrative imagery and emotional story content strengthen memorability
- Encoding with dance provides an embodied procedural scaffold
- Navigation of journey- provides spatial scaffold
what is the AITSIP way of knowing/learning?
-Strong emphasis that learning is a process that involves the community
-Process of learning is driven by being part of a system that supports community needs and is inherently tied to the relationship between teacher and learner
what are systems of knowledge?
-Developed by communities working together and sharing traditional expertise and knowledge
- Informed by spiritual and ancestral knowledge
What are the components of the 8 ways of learning framework?
story sharing, learning maps, non-verbal, symbols and images, land links
non-linear, deconstruct/reconstruct community links
what is story sharing?
-Learning takes place through narrative and story-sharing
-Validate their experiences
what are learning maps?
- Schematic representations
- Planning and visualising processes and knowledge
what is non-verbal?
- Sharing knowledge through non-verbal means, including dance, art, and observation
- Kinaesthetic learning which is hands-on
- Doesn’t include any written words
what are symbols and images?
-Learning through images, symbols, and metaphors
what are land links?
- Learning and knowledge are inherently linked to nature, land and country
- learning is intertwined with nature/ the land content in linked to geographical landmarks and features
what is non-linear?
-thinking outside the square and taking knowledge from a different viewpoint in order to build new understandings
what is deconstruct/reconstruct?
- breaking down a concept from whole to parts and then applying it
- learner initially watch knowledge/ skills and then they perform it
what are community links?
- connecting learning to local values, needs and knowledge
- learning is seen to benefit the community rather than an individual
