Learning (pt 1) - Exam 1 Flashcards
Learning
systematic relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs through experience
allows us to adapt -> increase behavior
types of learning
operant conditioning
classical conditioning
classical conditioning
learning that occurs when 2 stimuli are paired and become associated
ex: Pavlov and dogs (and bell)
basic elements of classical conditioning
neutral stimulus (NS)
unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
unconditioned response (UCR)
conditioned stimulus (CS)
conditioned response (CR)
neutral stimulus (NS)
stimulus with no effect on desired response
unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
stimulus that automatically produces a response without previous training
unconditioned response (UCR)
automatic reaction produced when a UCS is present
conditioned stimulus (CS)
a previous NS that has now acquired (after conditioning) the ability to elicit a conditioned response after pairing with UCS (NS+UCS=CS)
conditioned response (CR)
learned (conditioned) response to a CS
define the NS, UCS, UCR, CS, and CR for the Office example of Dwight getting offered a mint after hearing the ding of a computer and then being conditioned to expect a mint when the computer dings
NS - computer ding
UCS - mint
UCR - fresh breath
CS - computer ding
CR - want fresh breath/mint
define the NS, UCS, UCR, CS, and CR for the example of a patient going to a small clinic room and getting a drug injection that typically increases their heart rate but now has an increase in heart rate when they enter the small room/clinic
NS - small room/clinic
UCS - drug injection
UCR - heart rate increase
CS - small room/clinic
CR - heart rate increase
rules for acquiring a CR
of NS-UCS pairings
sequence of presenting a CS and UCS
UCS strength
timing of NS and UCS
number of NS-UCS pairings
what sequence do CS and UCS need to be presented for a response to happen and why?
CS must precede the UCS
if not, no response is created
ex: bell must ring before food is given or there is no response created to the bell
a stronger UCS will give rise to…
a stronger UCR
ex: bigger spider -> bigger scare
what is an optimal timing between an NS and UCS? what happens if we are outside of this range?
NS and UCS should be very close together (seconds)
there is typically no response if time is stretched (exception: food poisoning)
extinction
make a CR elicited from a CS decrease/go away
CS must be presented without the UCS for several trials until CR gradually disappears
spontaneous recovery
when a CR returns after extinction but the response is weak and short lived
discovered by Pavlov
generalization
when a response occurs to a stimulus that is similar to the CS but is not the actual CS
ex: Captain Hook responds to a metronome
discrimination
overcoming generalization and only giving CRs to specific CSs due to lack of pairing with UCS
ex: Captain Hook doesn’t respond to the Kimpossible noise
Little Albert and Phobias Exp (John B Watson)
generalization - rabbit, Santa Clause, fur coat
discrimination - notebook, pencil, apple
why are these adaptive? **
taste aversion
food -> illness… avoid the food
ex: mushroom pizza (+beer) -> vomit -> avoid mushroom pizza
where and how is taste aversion used in clinical settings?
chemotherapy patients
patients pick a food to eat before chemo to avoid taste aversion to food that they enjoy while receiving tx
operant conditioning
behavior + consequence
explains voluntary behavior
Thorndike’s Law of Effect
operant conditioning
consequence strengthens/weakens a stimulus+response connection
