Principles of learning and memory Flashcards
What is classical conditioning?
This is learning by association. A dog salivates in response to food and a bell is introduced when the food is shown. The dog then associates this bell with the food and therefore salivates when hearing the bell.
Also seen in Little Albert.
What is operant conditioning?
This is learning through consequences and if behaviour is positively reinforced, more likely to repeat but if punished, less likely to repeat the behaviour. Seen in Skinner’s box
What are some factors affecting learning?
Schedule, value of reinforcer, state of learner, desirability of reward.
What is observational learning?
This is learning through others and is seen in Banduras experiment with bobo dolls. If the children observing saw the models being rewarded for their behaviour, they would be more likely to copy it to get the same reward.
What is avoidance learning?
Learning an active behaviour to prevent or avoid an unpleasant stimulus (experience fear when doing it so want to avoid).
What is the link between chronic pain behaviours and avoidance learning?
If have this pain, avoid doing activities to trigger it, increased use of medication.
What are the three features of memory?
-Process (ability to retain info or representation of past experience)
-object (specific info that is recalled)
-storage (part of brain where traces of info and past experience are stored).
What is the model of memory?
Receive a stimulus from the environment and if we pay attention to this, moves into the short term memory. If we keep rehearsing this and encoding, goes to the long term memory (only stored). To then retrieve info, long term goes back to short term. If we dont pay attention, this will lead to the loss of information.
How can the number of pieces of info given have an impact?
Giving loads of different pieces of info is hard to process and recall all of them (will likely forget them).
What is the capacity of memory for us?
7 pieces (+/- 2) of info.
What is the duration of memory for us?
15-30 seconds.
How is recognition and recall an influence on memory?
Can be with or without a prompt. We recognise if we see things again, find it difficult to recall details spontaneously.
We recall familiar things far more easily than new things.
What other factors have an influence on memory?
age, literacy, desire for info, level of arousal, use of medical jargon.
What are some things you can do to make it easier giving info to the patient?
Assess their understanding (what they already know and open ended questions), invitation (what info would be helpful).
What is the influence of stress and anxiety on memory?
When arousal is low, they won’t pay attention and progress. When it’s high, they can’t take on board the info. Therefore, has to be in the middle where they aren’t overwhelmed thinking about other things.
Influence of context and state- dependent memory?
Memories return due to context or state of the person (triggered)- patient may forget what they need to do until they return to the hospital.
What are things to consider regarding info and delivery (you have most control over)?
Delivery (give warning, slowly, avoid medical jargon, chunk info, pause to let sink in, do not overwhelm).
Summarise the info and check their understanding.
Top tips for enhancing memory?
Find out what they already know, identify concerns, try to raise or reduce arousal, dont give too much at once, use language they can understand.
Can also aid with visual info.
