Learning wk 10 Flashcards
what is learning?
a relatively permanent change in behaviour as the result of experience
-skinner
what is memory
the faculty of the mind by which it retains the knowledge of previous thoughts, impressions or events
are reflexive responses sufficient to achieve adaptation?
they are sufficient enough to sustain basic forms of survival but complex and changing environments require specific adaptations
what is neural plasticity?
the brains ability to change continuously throughout life
what does plasticity mean for learning?
plasticity sustains learning
learning depends on the plasticity of the circuits within the brain - the ability of neurons to make lasting changes in their efficacy of their synaptic transmissions
explain hebbian synapses
Hebbs law: neurons that fire together wore together
pathways in the brain are formed and reinforced through repetition
what is habituation?
the process by which we respond less strongly overtime to repeated stimuli
what is an example of habituation?
Aplysia: Touch in same spot repeatedly and begins to ignore the stimulus
in this case it is a decrease in the release of the neurotransmitters serotonin
what is sensation?
something aversive about the stimulus that we don’t like and therefore we become more reactive to it.
some cases of repeated exposure lead to sensitisation responding more strongly over time it is likely when the stimulus is dangerous, irritating or both.
what did Carlson propose to be the 4 main types of learning
perceptual
motor
relational
stimulus response learning
what is perceptual learning?
to learn to recognise and learn about stimuli perceived previously and differentiate them from other similar stimuli.
however,
the main function is to identify and categories stimuli, such as objects and context.
what is motor learning?
special type of stimulus-response learning because it requires both exteroceptive sensory stimulation and propioceptive sensory stimulation
what is relational learning?
Various forms of learning that is required to establish specific associations between stimuli
what is stimulus response learning?
perform a learned behaviour in response to a specific stimulus with which the behaviour has been associated previously.
what is trace conditioning?
the unconditioned stimulus and conditioned stimulus are presented separately with an internal of time in between
what is delay conditioning?
the UC immediately follows with the CS
Do you need to be conscious to learn classical conditioning?
no it does not require consciousness and can occur even among people who are is a vegetable state.
what are the three stages of classical conditioning?
acquisition extinction
spontaneous
recovery
what is acquisition?
Learning phase during which a conditioned response is established
what is extinction?
Gradual reduction and eventual elimination of the conditioned response after the conditioned stimulus is presented repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus
what is spontaneous recovery?
Spontaneous recoveryIn a phenomenon whereby a seemingly extinct CR reappears (often in a somewhat weaker form) if the CS is presented again.
what is a renewal effect?
phenomenon is the renewal effect, which occurs when we extinguish a response in a setting different from the one in which the animal acquired it.
what is stimulus generalisation?
Process by which conditioned stimuli similar, but not identical, to the original CS elicit a conditioned response
what is stimulus discrimination?
the ability to differentiate between a conditioned stimulus another stimulated not been paired
classical conditioning & amp; drugs?
conditioned place preference: explains positive effective reactions to stimuli and places previously paired with drugs
what is operant conditioning
we learn through the consequences of our actions
what does operant behaviour depend on
skeletal muscles to carry out behaviours
responses are based in the limbic system as linked to reward
what does classical conditioning behaviour depend on
autonomic nervous system - not consciously directed
what is the law of the effect
if a response, in the presence of a stimulus is followed by a satisfying state of affairs, the bond between the stimulus and responses will be strengthens
what is reinforcement
any outcome that strengthens the probability of a response
differs from reward an action in response to a behaviour
explain schedule of reinforcement ?
continuous reinforcement : reinforce every time
partial reinforcement : reinforced one some of the time
what does skinner suggest about reinforcement schedules ?
continuous allows animals to learn new things quickly
partial leads to a greater resistance towards extinction
interval Vs ratio?
interval is a period of time - can be fixed or variable
ratio means after a certain amount of responses - can be fixed or variable
What is S-O-R learning ?
stimulus - organism - response
internal evaluation of consequences are incorporated
observational learning ?
vicarious learning - learning by watching other - learning without direct reinforcement
what did Alber Bandura do ?
the bobo experiment
found that chidden who watched an adult being aggressive were more aggressive themselves
what s the hummingbird experiment?
a tutor bird was placed in with the novice birds and by watching the tutor they learned to use the feeder
