Unit 2; Learning and Memory Flashcards
What is classical conditioning
process of learning that is involuntary and associates neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus
What are the 3 stages of classical conditioning
Before, During, After
Define Neutral Stimulus (NS)
Stimulus that doesn’t produce a natural occurring response
Define Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
A stimulus that elicits a response without previous learning (eg. Food makes dogs salvate)
Define Unconditioned Response (UCR)
Unlearned, natural response to an UCS
Define Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
Stimulus that produces a response after learning occurred. It used to be the NS
Define Conditioned Response (CR)
A response that is produced by the CS after learning has taken place
What is Operant Learning
A process of learning that is voluntary which involves the use of reinforcers/punishers
What is the 3-phase model for operant conditioning
ABC - Antecedent, Behaviour, Consequence (What happened before, What happens, What happens after)
What is the role of Reinforcers including the function of positive and negative reinforcement
They increase the likely-hood of repeating an action
Positive - reward
Negative - avoid a negative experience.
What is the role of Punishers including the function of positive and negative punishments
They decrease the likely-hood of repeating an action
Positive - a behaviour followed by a punishment (detention)
Negative - something taken away
Effective punishment
3 things must happen for it to be effective
It must be Consistent
The punishment must fit the action
It has to be immediately after
What is Observational learning
when an individual sees another person do an action (positive or negative) and use it to guide their future
Social cognitive approach
it’s a theory that states learning comes from social settings which involves various cognitive processes
5 stages of Observational learning
Attention
Retention
Reproduction
Motivation
Reinforcement
Encoding
converting info to a usable form so it can be used and stored
Storage
maintaining information over time
Retrieval
The ability to take information from LTM to STM
Sensory Memory
It’s the entry point for info and is NOT encoded
The capacity is unlimited and the time where the info is stored is 0.2-4 seconds
Short Term Memory
info that is conciously being attended too.
Duration 12-30 seconds
Capacity 5-9 pieces of info
Iconic Memory
It lasts 0.33 seconds and it’s used to identify the stimulus.
Echoic Memory
Auditory sensory memory, stores sounds from 3-4 seconds and is vital for language comprehension as it helps us process a whole word.
Chunking
The grouping or packing bits of information so that it becomes one as this increases the amount of info we can retain
Rehearsal
When you do an action so memory is retained and retrieved
Maintenance Rehearsal
The conscious process of constantly going back and repeating a specific action so it can be remembered easier
Elaborative Rehearsal
Attaching meaning to learning that needs to be remembered
Long term memory (LTM)
If you have the correct cues then information can be taken.
Unlimited Capacity/Duration
Explicit Memory
Memories retrieved consciously that is used for a specific use/need
This includes Semantic (Facts) and Episodic (Personal events)
Implicit Memory
Doesn’t need consciousness and is effortless.
Unaware of what’s being remembered
Made of Classically conditioned (fear or reflexes)/procedural memories (How to)
Hippocampus
Encodes new explicit semantic and episodic memories. After a while it helps with the consolidation of these memories. Acts with the Amygdala
Amygdala
recognises danger, also involved in processing our emotional reactions.
Classically conditioned responses are encoded
Activates the hippocampus
Neocortex
Processes, stores and retrieves explicit memories.
After hippocampus encodes memories it interacts.
Memories of specific experiences go throughout the whole neocortex
some areas are specialised for different aspects of a memory
Basal Ganglia
encodes motor element of implicit procedural memories which includes movement that’s voluntary.
Stores habituation learning and decreases response to stimuli when repeated
cerebellum
encodes and stores; implicit procedural memory and simple motor reflexes from Classical Conditioning
Autobiographical events
personally lived experiences that are stored in the LTM but when talked about it’s retrieved and put into STM
Mnemonics
strategies that help convert a lot of information into something meaningful and easy to remember
Acronym
uses the first letter of each word to make another word which aids in encoding and storing memories
Example;
NSW (New South Wales)
Acrostic
first letter of each word to make a poem, it’s useful for info you need in a specific order
e.g Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit.
Method of Loci
converts items into mental images and specific locations.
Sung Narratives
stories that share important info to a particular group of people
