Learning, Memory, and Neurobiology Flashcards
What is the definition of learning?
the process in which one acquires new behaviors
What is a stimulus?
anything to which an organism can respond
What is habituation?
the loss of a signal’s effect over time
What is dishabituation?
the regain of a signal’s effect due to the interruption of habituation by a secondary stimulus
What are the two types of learning?
associative learning and observational learning
What are the two types of associative learning?
classical conditioning and operant conditioning
What is the definition of classical conditioning?
the process through which a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus that elicits its respective conditioned response
When training dogs, trainers often pair a dog treat with a clicker. What is initially the neutral stimulus? When will the trainer know it has become a conditioned stimulus?
- the clicker
- when the dog knows it did a good job without a treat present
What is the phenomenon called when a conditioned stimulus eventually converts back to a neutral stimulus?
extinction
What is it called when an extinct conditioned stimulus randomly exhibits a weak conditioned response?
spontaneous recovery
Describe what generalization means in regard to classical conditioning.
It means that although one particular neutral stimulus may be converted into a conditioned stimulus, a similar stimulus could replace it and still act as a conditioned stimulus even though it was not explicitly conditioned.
Describe what discrimination means in regard to classical conditioning.
It means that one can be conditioned to respond differently to very similar neutral stimuli.
A dog has acquired a conditioned response of joy when hearing a clicker. One day, his trainer forgets to bring the clicker to training. Instead, she simply snaps with her fingers, which creates a similar sound. The dog still feels joyful after the sound. This is an example of what phenomenon of classical conditioning?
generalization
A dog has acquired a conditioned response of joy when hearing a clicker. One day, his trainer forgets to bring the clicker to training. Instead, she simply snaps with her fingers, which creates a similar sound. Despite the similar sound, the dog does not feel joyful after the sound. This is an example of what phenomenon of classical conditioning?
discrimination
What is operant conditioning primarily used for?
to adjust the frequency of voluntary behaviors
What does reinforcement do to voluntary behaviors?
increases their frequency
A mother is trying to get her son to get good grades in school. Every time he gets a good grade on a test, she lets him out of doing dishes that night. This is an example of what type reinforcement?
negative reinforcement, avoidance learning
What are the two types of negative reinforcement?
escape learning and avoidance learning
Aspirin is an example of escape learning or avoidance learning?
escape learning
What are the two types of positive reinforcers?
primary and secondary
What does punishment do to voluntary behaviors?
decrease frequency
What is shaping in regard to operant conditioning?
the “raising of the bar” as voluntary behavior is demonstrated (example: a mother might originally award her son for getting Bs on his exams, but after a while, she may “raise the bar” to As).
What are the four main reinforcement schedules?
fixed ratio, fixed interval, variable ratio, variable interval
What is the most effective reinforcement schedule? The least effective?
- variable ratio
- fixed interval
Not all types of learning are considered operant or classical. What are some of the other types?
latent learning, trial and error, and problem-solving
Suppose a dog has never tried to jump up on the couch by himself; his owners always lift him up and set him on it. However, when his bone is inadvertently thrown onto the couch, the dog jumps up on the couch by himself, surprising his owners. A psychologist would not be surprised, as the dog merely demonstrated what type of learning?
latent learning
