Lecture 1 - Intro, Habituation, Sensitization, Instrumental Conditioning Flashcards
What is learning?
an ENDURING change in the MECHANISMS of behaviour involving specific stimuli and/or responses which result from PRIOR experience with same or similar stimuli and responses
What is the difference between learning and performance?
Performance is all actions/behaviours of an organism at one particular time. Learning is measured by detecting a CHANGE in mechanisms of behaviour.
What are the types of performance that cannot be measured as learning?
Maturation (increase in performance which is not related to environmental experience)
Fatigue (decrease of behaviour due to repetitive use of muscles)
Motivational state (eg hungry, sexual hormones)
Change in stimulus conditions (eg turning off light and watching reaction)
Why is memory important in learning?
Because you cannot have learning without memory however learning is measured by looking at Acquisition and memory is measured by retention and retrieval.
What is habituation?
Habituation is a DECREASE in strength of behaviour/response following repeated presentations of a stimulus
What is sensitization?
Sensitization is an INCREASE in the strength of behaviour/response following repeated presentations of a stimulus
What is the ‘Dual Process Theory of Habituation and Sensitization?’
Dual Process theory states habituation responses are elicited by the ‘Startle-Response Pathway’ and Sensitization responses are elicited by the ‘State’ Pathway. Startle response pathway can decrease whilst state pathway can remain stable of increase. Both pathways are activated stimultaneously and the resulting response is the NET of the two pathways.
Why is the ‘Dual Process Theory of Habituation and Sensitization? important to learning?
It underpins human and non-human behaviour and is important to understanding control procedures in associative learning
What is Instrumental conditioning? Give examples of leaders in this field.
Instrumental conditioning is when behaviour becomes associated with its consequences. Eg Thorndike’s Law of Effect (determined from cat box) - behaviours which lead to positive consequences are ‘stamped in’ whilst behaviours leading to negative consequences are ‘stamped out’. Skinner’s mouse lever pressing experiments.
What is the difference between continuous and intermittent reinforcement?
Continuous is reinforcement given after EVERY response. Intermittent means partial - eg only given on some responses
What are the two types of intermittent reinforcement?
Ratio - based on number. Can be fixed - eg every 5th response or variable, average 5th response.
Interval - based on time. Can be fixed - eg every 5 minutes, or variable, average 5 minutes.
What is steady state behaviour?
Once learning of schedule of reinforcement has been learnt, a stable pattern of responding must be shown.
Based on a typical cumulative response table, what is the difference of responding between ratio and interval?
Both fixed and variable ratio responses will be faster (have steeper slope) than fixed and variable interval responses because animal can increase the frequency of rewards by working harder.
Based on a typical cumulative response table, what is the difference of responding between fixed and variable?
On both fixed ratio, and fixed variable, animal stops or decreases responding after they have obtained the reward and then continue responding again. For fixed ratio - its called ‘post reinforcement pause’ and for fixed variable its more of a ‘lull’. In comparison to variable schedules, animal continues to respond the whole time as animal does not know exactly when its going to receive its next reinforcement/reward.
What is Shaping? Give an example with Sniffy
Shaping is a process where successive approximations of a behaviour are reinforced. In lab one, Sniffy was shaped to first get to the lever area and then near the wall etc etc until Sniffy was finally reinforced for the intended behaviour of pressing the lever.
