UNIT 4 OUTCOME 1 Flashcards
neural bases of learning: changes in the function and structure of neurons during learning
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.
neural bases of learning: hippocampus
learning new information that will become declarative memory
neural bases of learning: amygdala
emotional learning to associate fear with new unpleasant stimulus.
neural bases of learning: developmental plasticity
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
neural bases of learning: adaptive plasticity
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.
classical conditioning: Unconditioned stimulus
any stimulus that consistently produces a particular naturally occurring, automatic response. The UCS is the Whizz Fizz.
classical conditioning: unconditioned response
the response that occurs automatically when the UCS is present. Its a reflexive involuntary response the UCR is this salivation at the Whizz Fizz.
classical conditioning: conditioned stimulus
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.
classical conditioning: conditioned response
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.
classical conditioning: stimulus generalization
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.
classical conditioning: stimulus discrimination
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.
role of the learner in classical conditioning
passive (salivation is a reflex not a choice)
nature of the response in classical conditioning
involuntary (salivation)
timing of the stimulus/response
stimulus occurs before the response (the shorter the time period the better)
classical conditioning: informed consent
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.
classification conditioning: withdrawal rights
the researcher must inform the participants of the nature of the research and that they are free to participate or decline participation.
trial and error
involves learning by trying alternative possibilities until the desired outcome is achieved. trial and error learning usually involves a number of attempts.
trial and error: motivation
a desire to attain some goal
trial and error: exploration
an increase in activity, either purposeful or random. it could often be purposeful or random.
trial and error: response
response can either be correct or incorrect.
trial and error: reward
the correct response is made and rewarded.
trial and error: voluntary participation
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
Operant conditioning: discriminative stimulus
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
Operant conditioning: response
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
Operant conditioning: consequence
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.
Operant conditioning: positive reinforcement
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.
Operant conditioning: negative reinforcement
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.
Operant conditioning: punishment
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.
Operant conditioning: role of the learner
active (choosing to do it)
Operant conditioning: nature of the response
Voluntary
Operant conditioning: timing of the stimulus/ response
close to discriminative stimulus occurs before the response, behaviour has to occur before the consequence.
Operant conditioning: voluntary participation
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.
Operant conditioning: confidentiality
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.
observational learning: attention
In order to learn through observation, we must pay attention to or closely watch a models behaviour and the consequence.
observational learning: retention
having observed the model, we must be able to remember the models behaviour.
observational learning: reproduction
when the models behaviour has been closely attended to and retained in memory, we can attempt to reproduce, or imitate what has been observed.
observational learning: motivation
the observer must be motivated to perform the behaviour, that is, they must want to reproduce what was observed
observational learning: reinforcement
reinforcement influences the motivation to reproduce the observer behaviour and increases the likelihood of reproduction.
observational learning: informed consent
participants must be informed of the nature and purpose of the research.
