Lecture 8: Learning pt 1 Flashcards
What is the definition of learning?
-Differes b/w disciplines (computer vs animal)
-Not a single definition
-Learning is linked to—> memory consolidation/storage—> memory retrieval (access and use)—>behaviour
-encoding consolidation, repeated makes longer changes to nervous system which creates memory
-Long term changes associated with memory
-Learning and memory and the impact on behaviour through NC plasticity/synaptic plasticity
What are the types of memory?
-Sensory input leads to short term memory aka “working memory” info stored for short time minutes, then long term memory which is stored info over along period of time (days to years)
What are the 2 broad classes of memory? think conscious vs unconsciously
memory branching to
-Non declarative/implied (unconscious)
*associative ex classical cond. emotional/skeletal musculature responses, skills ie riding bike
*Non-associative learning ex habituation or sensitization
-Declarative/explicit (consciously)
*Facts or events
What is stimulus-response learning?
Associative learning
-Classical conditioning (no motor response)
-Operant conditioning (using response for reward) ie voluntary motor response is executed
What is pavlovian conditioning?
Pavlov was a Russian physiologist that did experiments will animals and a bell. Bell rang seconds before food was delivered
-After a couple of pairings (food-bell) dog will start to salivate bc he’s anticipating food even if none (can be unpleasant or pleasant)
Learning a neutral stimulus (NS)= Conditioned stimulus (CS)
(that once neutral stimulus turns into a learned behaviour/ stimulus)
What are conditioning techniques?
-Excitatory conditioning: the CS(conditioned stimulus) serves as a signal for the occurrence of the US (unconditioned Stimulus) ie salivate
-Inhibitory conditioning:The CS indicates the omission of a US
What was the neural model for physiological processes and associate learning?
-Sea snail (7kg) very simple NS and neural pathways
-over simplification: good model for physiological basis for classical conditioning
-2 neurons are excited- make synaptic contact with a motor neuron; sound is presented before the air puff to the eye, related pairs of stimuli, the auditory synapse is strengthened sound produces eye blinking
Why were the cows in the video shown in class aware of he electrical fence?
-Applied example of classical conditioning
-Young cows avoiding fence bc the has some experience with it (electric shock)
-Learning/memory involved
-Limic system involved (more emotional response)
What is the hypothetical neural circuit for classical conditioned emotional response?
Aversive somatosensory stimulus (US) strong synapse in amygdala
Visual sensory input (CS) in amygdala
Strengthened synapse-paired US and CS in hippocampus
All to = a conditioned emotional response
What are the 4 different models of food selection?
- Euphagia (avoid harmful food by tasting/smell/texture)
- Hedyphagia
- Body morphophysiology and size
- Learning through foraging consequences/learning from post-ingestive feedback
What is the model of Euphagia and hypothesis?
Euphagia: the innate ability to taste and smell specific nutrients and toxins
Hypothesis: Animals select appropriate diets through inherited, specialized receptors that ducted nutrients/toxins
-Nature invests in NS to recognize all nutrients/toxins? too costly
What does the rat study choosing diets with and without vitamin B relate to learning?
-Rat fed diet A, had a lack of vit B-thymine after a while they got sick from eating this food
-Diet A w/o Vit
-Diet B with Vit
-Rats chose to eat diet B said rats have specific appetite but maybe can learn when they eat they get sick and stop eating it food aversion learning
-Varying opionions
What is the hedyphagia model?
-Animals are born preferring foods that are nutrition and disliking foods that are toxic
-Innate perception of palatability-sweetness, energy density, texture
-Nutritious food becomes “pleasing” toxic/low quality food becomes “offensive”
-Genetic/instinctive avoidance of bitter food has significant survival value (bitter os made toxic)
-Some flavours are inherently pleasing/aversive or in some way less susceptible to modification through experience/learning
-General tendency sweet food preferred and bitter food is avoided
What are the morphological physiological attributes?
Browsers: larger salivary gland, low master muscle mass (leaves, wooded plants)
Grazers: smaller salivary gland, high master muscle mass ex cattle
What are conditioned preferences and aversions?
When eat something receive digestive feedback. Learning important for food choices
Digestive feedback: ex the greater the pos/neg feedback, the greater the preference/aversion, but this depends on inherited attributes such as
-Physiological attributes: ex enzyme to metabolize toxins
-Morphological attributes: ex digestive morphology
-Skills and abilities: foraging skills (individual)
-Sensory abilities:inherited ability to taste, smell, and see food in a specific environment
