Recent lecture

Question 1

Define sensitization

Answer 1

Changes in behavioral states driven by neurological changes in neuron synapse firing rates
Increase of response to stimulus due to increased neurological response. Created by novelty effect or experience driving value away from neutral (typically punishing). Physiological state of arousal/hyperawareness

Question 2

Define habituation

Answer 2

Decrease of response to stimulus due to diminishing neurological response. Created by repeated exposure driving value to neutral rather than reinforcing or punishing

Question 3

Define extinction

Answer 3

Operant, behavioral process- changes in behavior rather than physiological states of awareness/sensitivity
When reinforcement of a previously reinforced behavior is discontinued. Continued lack of reinforcement- behavior occurrence decreases in frequency

Question 4

Define forgetting

Answer 4

a decline in conditioned response due to lack of use or prolonged absence of experience.

Question 5

Define an extinction burst

Answer 5

Increase in frequency, intensity, and/or variability of response.
With continued lack of reinforcement, response will then declines.
With occasional reinforcement, can strengthen behavior/make robust

Question 6

Extinction will be more robust with:
(5 ways)

Answer 6

1. Increased experience/repetition
2. Exposure over time (spaced out vs all at once)
3. Multiple contexts vs context specific extinction cues
4. Extinguishing multiple cues at the same time
5. Timing of extinction (before memory formation/ within 6 hrs- ideal 24 hrs after exposure-maximum, maximize benefit)

Question 7

T or F: Schedules of reinforcement impact the extinction rate

Answer 7

True

Question 8

What happens to extinction when you use a continuous reinforcement schedule

Answer 8

Extinction will be faster- possibly causes more frustration (aversive emotion from unexpected absence of reinforcement)— called the overtraining extinction effect

Question 9

What happens to extinction when you use an intermittent reinforcement schedule

Answer 9

Extinction will be slower- less frusteration— called the partial reinforcement extinction effect: training with intermittent reinforcement makes behavior more resistant to extinction

Question 10

Define Partial Reinforcement Extinction Effect

Answer 10

Training with intermittent reinforcement makes behavior more resistant to extinction

Question 11

Define Overtraining Extinction Effect

Answer 11

Aversive emotion from unexpected absence of reinforcement

Question 12

Define the Discrimination Hypothesis

Answer 12

Absence of reinforcement easier to detect after continuous reinforcement.
Result- doesn’t hold up- learned persistence

Question 13

Define the Frustration Theory

Answer 13

Frustration= emotional reaction induced by absence of an expected reinforcer. Intermittent schedule trains approximations to accept frustration. They are learning to respond even when they expect not to be reinforced.

Question 14

Define the Sequential Theory

Answer 14

Memory of not receiving reward becomes cue to respond

Question 15

T or F: the animal never truly forgets an extinct behavior. You can reverse previously occurred learning

Answer 15

True

Question 16

Define spontaneous recovery

Answer 16

Temporal “breaks” between extinction and re-cueing behavior lead to increase in offering behavior
Recovery response is typically not as strong as original response, but rate is higher than baseline during extinction

Question 17

Define renewal

Answer 17

Change of contextual cues present during extinction lead to recovery of behavior

Question 18

T or F: New context can have novelty effect

Answer 18

True

Question 19

Define restoration

Answer 19

Return to extinction by re-creating context cues during extinction

Question 20

Define Reinstatement

Answer 20

Re-exposure to the unconditioned stimulus (US) creates an increase in behavior
Relies on “chance” exposure and reinforcing experience

Question 21

Define Resurgence

Answer 21

Extinction of another response leads to increase in extinct behavior
- Train behavior A then extinguish
- Train behavior B then extinguish
- After B, sees increase in offering behavior A, but extinction of multiple stimuli at the same time increases strength of both

Question 22

Differentiate between an LRS and an intermittent reinforcement schedule

Answer 22

LRS- 3-5 second pause where nothing happens to change the environment
intermittent reinforcement schedule- much shorter amount of time between asking for next behavior

Question 23

T or F: Variable and/or intermittent schedules make resistance to extinction stronger

Answer 23

True, because the animal will never know what to expect