Unit 6: Learning Flashcards
Learning
process that allows for enduring changes in the brain and behaviour as a result of prior experience
nonassociative learning
increase or decreased response to a repeated stimulus
associative learning
making connections between stimuli and behavioural responses to them
habituation
when an organism’s reflexive response to a repeated stimulus becomes weaker (not the same as adaptation in that habituation is instantly restorable when the stimuli changes)
sensitization
when an organism’s reflexive response to a repeated stimulus becomes stronger
Operant conditioning
active form of associative learning related to changes in voluntary behaviours (making connections btw a behaviour and its consequences)
Classical conditioning
passive form of associative learning where an involuntary response (reflex) to a stimulus becomes associated with a new stimulus
acquisition
initial learning of the unconditioned stimulus - condiitoned stimulus (tldr phase where one stimulus becomes associated with another)
generalization
tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to other conditioned stimuli
Discrimination
when we learn to respond to one stimulus but not to similar stimuli
Extinction
active learning process where the conditioned response is weakened in response to the condition stimuli in the absence of the unconditioned stimuli (extinction does not imply complete unlearning)
Spontaneous recovery
when an extinct behaviour reappears after a delay (time passing)
blocking
phenomenon where new CS associations for familiar events are more difficult to form because those events already have predictions associated with them
Preparedness
species-specific biological predisposition to learn some associations more quickly than others
conditioned taste aversion
strong tendency for humans to associate nausea with food rahter than other environmental factors
