Unit 5: Cognition Flashcards
learning
the process of acquiring new and relativity enduring information/behaviors
habituation
decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation
associative learning
learning that certain events occur together
classical conditioning
a type of leaning which one learns to link 2+ stimuli and anticipate events
unconditioned response (UR)
in classical conditioning, an unlearned, naturally occurring response to an unconditioned stimulus
unconditioned stimulus (US)
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally - naturally and automatically - triggers a response (UR)
conditioned response (CR)
in classical conditioning, a learned response to a previously neutral (but now conditioned) stimulus (CS)
conditioned stimulus (CS)
in classical conditioning, an originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to trigger a conditioned response (CR)
neutral stimulus (NS)
in classical conditioning, a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning
acquisition
in initial stage, where one links a NS and an US so that the NS begins triggering the CS/strengthening of a reinforced response
high-order conditioning
a procedure in which the CS in one conditioning experiment is paired with a new NS, creating a second CS
extinction
the diminishing of a conditioned response
spontaneous recovery
the reappearance, after a pause, of an extinct CR
generalization
the tendency, once a response has been conditioned, for similar stimuli (to the CS) to elicit a similar response
discrimination
the learned behavior to distinguish between a CS and a stimuli that do no signal a US
learned helplessness
the hopelessness and passive resignation learned when unable to avoid repeated aversive events
respondent behaviour
behaviour that occurs as an automatic response to some stimuli
operant conditioning
a type of learning which behaviours are strengthened or punished, depending on what follows said behaviour
operant behaviour
a behaviour that operates on the environment, producing consequences
law of effect
Thorndike’s principle that behaviours followed by favorable consequences become more likely to occur, and behaviours followed by unfavorable consequences do not
operant chamber
a chamber containing a box, lever, or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain food/water reinforcer
shaping
a procedure in which reinforcers guide behaviour toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behaviour
discriminative stimulus
a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement
reinforcer
a stimulus or circumstance that produces reinforcement when it occurs in a dependent relationship, or contingency, with a response
positive reinforcement
increasing behaviour by presenting positive reinforcers
negative reinforcement
increasing behaviours by reducing negative stimuli
positive punishment
decreasing behaviours by presenting negative reinforcers
negative punishment
decreasing behaviours by reducing positive stimuli
primary reinforcer
an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need
memory
the persistence of learning overtime through the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information
encoding
the processing of information into the memory system
storage
the process of retaining encoded information overtime
retrieval
the process of getting information out of memory storage
sensory memory
the immediate, very brief, encoding of sensory information in the memory system
short-term memory
activated memory that holds a few items briefly, before getting stored or forgotten
long-term memory
a relativity permanent and limitless storehouse of the memory system
working memory
a newer understanding of short-term memory that focuses on conscious, active processing of incoming information and information retrieved from long-term memory
parallel processing
the processing of many parts of a problem simultaneously
automatic processing
unconscious encoding of incidental information and well-learned information
effortful processing
encoding that takes attention and conscious effort
rehearsal
cognitive process in which information is repeated over and over as a possible way of learning and remembering it
spacing effect
the tendency for distributed study to yield better long term effects that massed study
serial position effect
our tendency to best recall the last and first items in a list
visual encoding
the neural processes by which stimuli seen in the external world are converted into internal (mental) representations that can subsequently be processed and stored in memory
acoustic encoding
the process of encoding sounds, words, and other auditory input for storage and retrieval.
semantic encoding
cognitive encoding of new information that focuses on its meaningful aspects as opposed to its perceptual characteristics
imagery
cognitive generation of sensory input from the five senses, individually or collectively, which is recalled from experience or self-generated in a nonexperienced form
mnemonics
memory aids; especially techniques that use vivid imagery
chunking
organizing items into familiar, manageable units
iconic memory
a momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli
echoic memory
a momentary sensory memory of auditory stimulus
long-term potentiation
an increase in a cell’s firing potential after brief, rapid stimulation
flashbulb memory
a clear memory of an emotionally significant moment/event
amnesia
partial or complete loss of memory, either temporary or permanent
implicit memory
retention independent of conscious recollection
explicit memory
memory of facts and experiences that one can consciously know and ‘declare’
