Lecture 1 Flashcards
Why is it difficult to study learning and memory processes
because they cannot be observed, only inferred. they are theoretical concepts that are proposed to explain the fact that behavior is influenced by our past experiences
What is the psychological approach/general goal
- derive set of empirical principles that describe how variation in experience influences behavior
- provide a theoretical account that can explain the observed facts
What is the significance of theorist Hermann Ebbinghaus
first scientific methods for assessing acquisition and retention to study “pure memory” which was to separate what the subject already learned and what the subject was now asked to remember, using nonsense syllables. He used the forgetting curve
What was Ebbinghaus’ biggest criticism
that he was his only subject
What is Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve and what are the ways it can be explained
It is time by a function of trace strength which declines as time continues. Can be explained as single trace (continuous declining curve) or dual trace that consists of a rapidly declining first short term memory trace followed by a second long term trace that decays much slower.
Explain the difference between psychologists and neurobiologists studying memory
psychologists study memory at a single level (experience to behavior) and neurobiologists study the relationship between them by looking at brain systems, synapses, and molecules
Why are we in the midst of a neurobiological revolution (3 reasons)
- the field is maturing/accumulating a body of evidence in many aspects (medicine, genetics, etc.)
- maturation of theories and conceptual models
- onslaught of technology advances (mostly in relation to animals)
What ideas did Theodule Ribot propose
- that during diseases in the brain, memories disappear in orderly fashion
- that old memories are more resistant to disruptive influences of the brain (RIBOT’S LAW)
What ideas did Serge Korsakoff propose
Korsakoff’s Syndrome - produced by long term consumption of alcohol, characterized initially by anterograde amnesia then later retrograde amnesia. 1. poor eating habits 2. problem converting thiamine into active form 3. serious impact on internal organs
What movement did William James create
Functional movement - influenced by darwin, it is the use of consciousness, memory, and behavior to adjust to the environment
What other importance did william james have
emphasized that humans were both rational and irrational (emotions) and pushed for the study of animals to help learn about humans.
What did william james propose in regards to memory
that memories emerge in stages and an after image is supported by a short lasting trace then replaced by primary trace that also decays
(After image is shortly retained
Primary memory is partially retained and built into stream of consciousness
Secondary memory is retained and can be fished out again)
Define the reticulum theory
the brain functions like a spider web, later denied and replaced with neuron doctrine
What is Golgi most remembered for
his staining strategy to expose the morphology of the NS
What was Cajal’s two big ideas
- neuron doctrine - brain made up of discrete cells (nerve cells) each with the external membrane as its boundary
- synaptic plasticity hypothesis - synaptic connection is strengthened/ modified by experience
What are Cajal’s 3 main contributions
- the neuron is an independent unit (refuted that nerve cells were linked in a continuous network
- figured out logic of the brain’s wiring diagram (axons could travel short or long distances, always terminated at specific locations on the dendrites
- the synapse (axons and dendrites were connected but not fused)
what is the law of dynamic polarization
that electrical activity flows through the neuron in one direction (dendrites to axon)
What theories did Edward Lee Thorndike have
did “animal intelligence” research - study of the associative processes in animals
connectionism - called the association between sense impressions and impulses to action a bond or connection
valued trial and error learning
What was the first methodology for studying how we learn about consequences of actions called that thorndike developed
instrumental conditioning/learning - learning that a reward or reinforcer is a result on the occurrence of a particular behavior
What is thorndike’s puzzle box and what did he conclude from the experiment
cat in a box and could pull string to let it escape. plotted time it took to solve as a function of the number of opportunities to solve, decreased time as increased number of trials
concluded - learning was direct and not mediated by thinking or reasoning
define Thorndike’s law of readiness before 1930
satisfying = individual ready to learn and allowed to
annoying = ready to learn but prevented to or not ready and forced to
Define law of use and law of disuse
law of use - connections between stimulus and response are strengthened after use
law of disuse - connections between are weakened when practice is discontinued
Define law of effect
stimulus leads to a response which reinforces, SR connection strengthened
OR if leads to punishment, then connection weakened
What are important secondary concepts before 1930
multiple response (first step in learning, remain active until solves an existing problem)
set or attitude (importance of what learner brings to the learning situation)
prepotency of elements (
