Mechanisms of Learning Flashcards
Learning is defined as
a relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs as a result of experience
learning can occur either
intentionally or unintentionally
eg of learning intentionally
taking piano lessons
eg of learning unintentionally
hearing or watching someone playing piano
learned behaviour is also defined as relatively permanent because
it cannot be something that is present one day and gone the next
learning is regarded as RELATIVELY permanent because
most, if not all learned behaviours can be modified
the two types of behaviours that are not dependent on learning are
- reflexes
- fixed action patterns
a reflex is
an automatic involuntary behaviour that does not require prior experience and occurs in the same way each time
eg of a reflex
blinking your eyes when the wind blows in your face
a fixed action pattern of behaviour occurs when
all members of a species produce an identical response to the same specific environmental stimuli
eg of a fixed action pattern
salmon migrating thousands of kilometres to spawn in the rivers they were born
factors that classify a fixed action pattern
- all members of the species (possibly sex-specific as well) demonstrate the behaviour
- the behaviour is similar whenever it is executed
- when the organism reaches the right level of maturation, it will produce the behaviour the first time it is required, without having learned it
- the behaviour is difficult to change
- the behaviour is complex
generally in regards to fixed action patterns, the higher the order of animal
the fewer the inborn or instinctive behaviours
maturation is a
developmental process leading towards maturity, based on the orderly sequence of changes that occurs in the nervous system and other bodily structures controlled by genetic inheritance
eg of maturation
at about 8 to 10 months of age, most infants around the world will begin crawling, it will occur automatically and nothing can be done to hasten the onset of its development
a neurotransmitter comprises of
electrochemical messages
the synaptic gap is
the tiny bit of space between the axon ending of one neuron and the dendrite of another axon
the synapse consists of 3 components, they are
- the synaptic gap
- axon ending or presynaptic neuron
- dendrite or post synaptic neuron
the synapse is
the site of communication between adjacent neurons
long term potentiation (LTP) refers to
the long lasting strengthening of the synaptic connections of neurons, resulting in the enhanced or more effective functioning of the neurons whenever they are activated (to improve the ability of 2 neurons)
plasticity is
the ability of the brain’s neural structure or function to be changed by experience throughout the life span
developmental plasticity refers to
changes in the brain’s neural structure in response to experience during its growth and development
synaptogenesis is
the process of forming new synapses
this type of plasticity is
predetermined, but also subject to influence by experience
synaptic pruning is
the process of eliminating synaptic connections
a sensitive period is
a specific period of time in development when an organism is more responsive (sensitive) to certain environmental experiences or stimuli
adaptive plasticity refers to
changes occurring in the brain’s neural structure to enable adjustment to experience, to compensate for lost function and/or maximise remaining functions in the event of brain damage
adaptive plasticity is typically quicker, more substantial and extensive in
the earlier years of life such as infancy and childhood
rerouting in adaptive plasticity is when
an undamaged neuron that has lost a connection with an active neuron may seek a new active neuron and connect with it instead
sprouting in adaptive plasticity is
the growth of new bushier nerve fibres with more branches to make new connections
adaptive plasticity essentially enables
the brain to take over and shift functions from damaged areas to undamaged areas
