UNIT 4 OUTCOME 1

Question 1

neural bases of learning: changes in the function and structure of neurons during learning

Answer 1

Function: an increase in the amount of neurotransmitters produced and released by the pre-synaptic neurons and greater effects of neurotransmitters at its receptor sites on the post-synaptic neurons.
Structure: involves the growth and strengthening dendritic spines increases and the dendrites therefore becoming ‘bushier’. This has the effect of increasing the surface area of the dendrites, thereby allowing extra synapses.

Question 2

neural bases of learning: hippocampus

Answer 2

learning new information that will become declarative memory

Question 3

neural bases of learning: amygdala

Answer 3

emotional learning to associate fear with new unpleasant stimulus.

Question 4

neural bases of learning: developmental plasticity

Answer 4

refers to changes in the brains neural structure in response to experience during its growth and development. influenced by the genes we inherit, and experiences

Question 5

neural bases of learning: adaptive plasticity

Answer 5

refer to changes occurring in the brain’s neural structure to enable adjustment to experience, to compensate for lost function and/or to maximize remaining functions in the event of brain damage.

Question 6

classical conditioning: Unconditioned stimulus

Answer 6

any stimulus that consistently produces a particular naturally occurring, automatic response. The UCS is the Whizz Fizz.

Question 7

classical conditioning: unconditioned response

Answer 7

the response that occurs automatically when the UCS is present. Its a reflexive involuntary response the UCR is this salivation at the Whizz Fizz.

Question 8

classical conditioning: conditioned stimulus

Answer 8

the stimulus that is ‘neutral’ at the start of the conditioning process and do not normally produce the unconditioned response. The CS is the bell ringing.

Question 9

classical conditioning: conditioned response

Answer 9

the learned response that is produced by the CS. The CR occurs after the CS has been associated with the UCS. The CR is the salivation at the sound of the bell thinking youre getting the Whizz Fizz.

Question 10

classical conditioning: stimulus generalization

Answer 10

Occurs when the correct response is made to another stimulus that is similar to the stimulus that was present when the conditioned response was reinforced. if a different bell rang generalization would occur if not stimulus discrimination has occurred.

Question 11

classical conditioning: stimulus discrimination

Answer 11

occurs when an organism makes the correct response to a stimulus and is reinforced, but doesn’t respond to any other stimulus, even when stimulus are similar.

Question 12

role of the learner in classical conditioning

Answer 12

passive (salivation is a reflex not a choice)

Question 13

nature of the response in classical conditioning

Answer 13

involuntary (salivation)

Question 14

timing of the stimulus/response

Answer 14

stimulus occurs before the response (the shorter the time period the better)

Question 15

classical conditioning: informed consent

Answer 15

wherever appropriate, participants must be informed of the nature and purpose of the research. They must be informed of the procedures, they must have clarification on possible risks or effects and there must be and explanation of the collection and use of information, and their rights to withdraw.

Question 16

classification conditioning: withdrawal rights

Answer 16

the researcher must inform the participants of the nature of the research and that they are free to participate or decline participation.

Question 17

trial and error

Answer 17

involves learning by trying alternative possibilities until the desired outcome is achieved. trial and error learning usually involves a number of attempts.

Question 18

trial and error: motivation

Answer 18

a desire to attain some goal

Question 19

trial and error: exploration

Answer 19

an increase in activity, either purposeful or random. it could often be purposeful or random.

Question 20

trial and error: response

Answer 20

response can either be correct or incorrect.

Question 21

trial and error: reward

Answer 21

the correct response is made and rewarded.

Question 22

trial and error: voluntary participation

Answer 22

the researcher must try ensure that participants voluntarily consent to be involved in a study. they must not be pressured and the experimenter must ensure there are no negative experiences

Question 23

Operant conditioning: discriminative stimulus

Answer 23

is the stimulus that precedes a particular response, signals the probable consequence for the response and therefore influences the occurrence of the response. The negative comments and staring by Sheldon demonstrates to penny that he disproves of her behaviour. By staring or making comments he is signalling a probable consequence

Question 24

Operant conditioning: response

Answer 24

Voluntary behaviour that occurs in the presence of the discriminative stimulus. In the presence of Sheldon’s glaring and comments penny responds by correcting her behaviour when indicated by Sheldon that he disproves of her behaviour

Question 25

Operant conditioning: consequence

Answer 25

is the environmental event that occurs immediately after the response and determines whether or not the response will occur. after penny corrects her behaviour Sheldon rewards her with chocolate, by rewarding her this determines whether or not the response will occur.

Question 26

Operant conditioning: positive reinforcement

Answer 26

is a stimulus that strengthens or increase the frequency or likelihood of a desired response by providing a satisfying consequence. It occurs from applying a positive reinforcer after the desired response. by giving penny chocolate, Sheldon is increasing the frequency of he desired response, in altering her behaviour.

Question 27

Operant conditioning: negative reinforcement

Answer 27

is the removal or avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus. when removing the unpleasant stimulus the frequency of the desired response is increased. To avoid feeling uncomfortable penny changes her behaviour to avoid the unpleasant stimulus of Sheldon’s glaring and negative comments.

Question 28

Operant conditioning: punishment

Answer 28

the delivery of an unpleasant consequence following a response, or the removal of a pleasant consequence following a response. The punishment for penny could be the comments and glares. the evident punishment is Sheldon using the spray bottle on Leonard when he considers his response as undesirable.

Question 29

Operant conditioning: role of the learner

Answer 29

active (choosing to do it)

Question 30

Operant conditioning: nature of the response

Answer 30

Voluntary

Question 31

Operant conditioning: timing of the stimulus/ response

Answer 31

close to discriminative stimulus occurs before the response, behaviour has to occur before the consequence.

Question 32

Operant conditioning: voluntary participation

Answer 32

The researcher must try to ensure that participants voluntarily consent to be involved in the study. they must not be pressured or have negative consequences.

Question 33

Operant conditioning: confidentiality

Answer 33

participants have a right to privacy, so any details of their involvement in the study cannot be revealed in a manner that enables individuals to be identified, unless their written consent is obtained. confidentiality applies to the access of research data by others or the disposal of research data. by involving Leonard this was not upheld.

Question 34

observational learning: attention

Answer 34

In order to learn through observation, we must pay attention to or closely watch a models behaviour and the consequence.

Question 35

observational learning: retention

Answer 35

having observed the model, we must be able to remember the models behaviour.

Question 36

observational learning: reproduction

Answer 36

when the models behaviour has been closely attended to and retained in memory, we can attempt to reproduce, or imitate what has been observed.

Question 37

observational learning: motivation

Answer 37

the observer must be motivated to perform the behaviour, that is, they must want to reproduce what was observed

Question 38

observational learning: reinforcement

Answer 38

reinforcement influences the motivation to reproduce the observer behaviour and increases the likelihood of reproduction.

Question 39

observational learning: informed consent

Answer 39

participants must be informed of the nature and purpose of the research.