Operant Conditioning

Question 1

Primary Reinforcers

Answer 1

Stimuli needed for survival (food, water, sex)
Stimuli that mimic effects of food, water, sex in brain
Novel and sensory stimulation

Question 2

Secondary Reinforcers/ Conditioned Reinforcers

Answer 2

Previous neutral stimulus that acquired capacity to strengthen S-R associations because it has been repeatedly paired with some other primary reinforcer
i.e token paired with food

Question 3

Social Reinforcers

Answer 3

Stimuli whose reinforcing properties come from behaviour of other members of same species
ie. praise, affection…etc

Blend of primary and secondary reinforcers

Question 4

Shaping/ Systematic Approximation

Answer 4

Guide rat to desired behaviour by presenting conditioned reinforcer when rat displays beahviour that leads to desired behaviour

i.e. Pair sound with food, rat eats food, rat looks at lever, press sound button and release food. couple days later, rat immediately looks at lever (no clink), touches lever with nose (clink)…etc

Question 5

Thorndike’s Law of Effect

Answer 5

Satisfaction stamps in connection between S-R association

Response will increase if it is followed by satisfying outcome, only way to asses if outcome is satisfying is if response increases

Wrong- response can still occur in the absence of satisfaction

Question 6

Contiguity Theory

Answer 6

Operant conditioning occurs when S, R, S* occur together in time

Question 7

Stop Action Principle

Answer 7

Any specific bodily position and muscle movements occurring when S* is delivered ill have a higher probability of occurring in the future

i.e. once cat figures out how to press pedal, will always press it the same way (i.e. with nose)

Question 8

Cognitive Theory

Answer 8

During operant conditioning, animals make S-S* associations. Rs are highly flexible, and primary role of a S* is to motivate behaviour

Question 9

What Makes a Reinforcer Reinforcer

Answer 9

Enhancement of memory consolidation

Provides conditioned motivation

Question 10

Inhibition of Consolidation

Answer 10

Learning other info (new info interferes with consolidation with old info)

ECT- induces seizures, results in amnesia

Traumas- Lose memories of current events

Question 11

Facilitation of Consolidation

Answer 11

Emotional event- activate regions in brain involved in memory consolidation

Reinforcing Stimuli

Question 12

Passive Avoidance Task

Answer 12

Group 1: fed in home cage immediately after training session

Group 2: fed in home cage hours after training session

Results: Group 1 remained on platform longer than Group 2 (stay on platform or get shocked)

Food is the reinforcer even though they weren’t fed until after they were back in home cage

Question 13

Electrical Stimulation and Consolidation

Answer 13

Post training electrical stimulation of reticular formation enhances retention of both appetitive and aversive tasks

Question 14

MFB and Resinforcement

Answer 14

Stimulation of Medial Forebrain Bundle has strong reinforcing properties

Trained rats to do choice task, some stimulated, others not. Stimulated rats learned better

Question 15

Drugs of Abuse and Consolidation

Answer 15

If drugs are administered immediately after trading, performance in incidental recall (surprise recall test) is better

i.e. cocaine, sucrose

Question 16

Conditioned Motivation

Answer 16

Reinforcer provides motivation to perform a response

i.e. smoke in lungs becomes a conditioned reinforcer, results in smoking even if there is no nicotine in cigarette

Question 17

Wanting/ Liking

Answer 17

Wanting and Liking are dissociable

Dopamine destroyed in brain

Results in rats not eating (doesn’t want food), but if you put something sweet or bitter in their mouth, they will still respond (liking)