Chapter 7: Learning

Question 1

Associative Learning

Answer 1

learning that involves forming association between stimuli (classical and operant conditioning)

Question 2

Non Associative Learning

Answer 2

learning that does not involve forming association between stimuli (habituation and sensitization)

studies in sea slug

Question 3

Habituation

Answer 3

a form of non associative learning. repeated presentation of a stimulus leads to a reduction in response

Question 4

Sensitization

Answer 4

a form of non associative learning. strong stimuli results in an exaggerated response to the subsequent presentation of weaker stimuli.

notice things and are more alert after a surprising event

Question 5

Classical Conditioning (Pavlovian)

Answer 5

a form of associative learning. neutral stimulus is paired with salient stimulus so that eventually neutral stimulus predicts salient stimulus

Question 6

Sequence of Classical Conditioning

Answer 6

US- normally elicits a psychological response
UR- response to US. not learned

pair the neutral stimulus with US
will associate the Neutral with UR

CS- the neutral stimulus that will eventually illicit a response
CR- response caused by the CS, usually same response as UR. learned

Question 7

Extinction

Answer 7

reduction of conditioned response after repeated presentations of conditioned stimulus alone

need reinstatement (occasional re-pairing of CS and US) to prevent it

Question 8

Spontaneous Recovery

Answer 8

reemergence of a conditioned response some time after extinction has occurred

Question 9

“Little Albert”

Answer 9

by John Watson. very unethical

paired loud noise with a harmless white rat. made the baby cry even when white rat was presented w/o the noise

discovered stimulus generalization when Albert became scared of other white and furry things

Question 10

Stimulus Generalization

Answer 10

similar stimulus elicit the same response as conditioned stimulus after classical conditioning

Question 11

Systematic Desensitization

Answer 11

process used to condition extinction of phobias through gradual exposure to fear object or situation

Question 12

Conditioned Taste Aversion

Answer 12

form of classical conditioning whereby a previous neutral stimulus (often odor or taste) elicits an aversive reaction after it’s paired with illness

Question 13

Higher Order Conditioning

Answer 13

Using the conditioned stimulus as a neutral stimulus

secondary conditioning

Question 14

Operant Conditioning (Skinner)

Answer 14

a form of associative learning. behavior is modified depending on its consequences (reward/punishment)

Question 15

Behaviorism

Answer 15

systematic study and manipulation of observable behavior

Question 16

Reinforcer

Answer 16

experience that produces an increase in a certain behavior

Question 17

Punishment

Answer 17

unpleasurable experience that produces a decrease in a certain behavior

Question 18

Brain areas involved in Operant Conditioning

Answer 18

reward: prefrontal, nucleus accumbent, ventral tegmental area

punishment: amygdala (fear), somatosensory cortex (pain)

Question 19

Types of Reinforcers

Answer 19

primary- reinforcers that are intrinsically pleasurable

secondary- reinforcers that are associated with primary reinforcer (ex. money)

Question 20

Continuous Reinforcement

Answer 20

when behavior is reinforced every time it occurs.

not as effective at maintaining behavior

Question 21

Ratio schedule of Reinforcement

Answer 21

fixed-ratio: reinforcement occurs after a specific number of responses (high response rate)

interval-ratio: number of responses required for reinforcement varies (high response rate)

Question 22

Interval schedule of Reinforcement

Answer 22

fixed-interval: reinforcement occurs every time a specific time period has elapsed

variable-interval: reinforcement occurs after varying arounds of time (low response rate)

Question 23

Behavior Modification

Answer 23

a planned effort to change behavior

Question 24

Shaping

Answer 24

reward activities that are increasingly closer to a desired final behavior

reward successive approximation of desired behavior

Question 25

Learned helplessness

Answer 25

repeated exposure to unescapable punishment eventually produces a failure to male escape attempts

Question 26

Spatial navigation learning

Answer 26

learning that involves forming associations among stimuli relevant to navigating in space

Question 27

Insight learning

Answer 27

sudden realization of solutions

having “ah-ha” moments

Question 28

Observational learning

Answer 28

learning that occurs without overt training in response to watching behavior

Question 29

Modeling

Answer 29

mimicking others behavior

Question 30

Bandura and Bobo doll

Answer 30

those who watched the violent bobo doll video were more likely to behave violently towards other dolls

raised concerns about violence on tv

Question 31

Context effect

Answer 31

context helps with recalling the info.

if you learn something in one environment, you may be less likely to recall it in a different environment

Question 32

Different types of learning are served by Different neural systems

Answer 32

• habituation and sensitization arise from changes in sensory neurons and their related corresponding interneurons and motor neurons
• classical conditioning of eye blink is associated with cerebellum. fear conditioning is with amygdala
• reward learning in midbrain dopamine system
• motor learning in basal ganglia
• spatial navigation and episodic learning in hippocampus

Question 33

Long-term potentiation

Answer 33

form of synaptic change that involves increased activity in postsynaptic cells after strong, repetitive stimulation

Question 34

Stereotype threat

Answer 34

awareness of negative stereotype that affects oneself often leads to impairment in performance

Question 35

Dyslexia

Answer 35

learning disability that involves difficulties in learning to read not caused by defects in general intelligence

Question 36

Dyscalculia

Answer 36

inability to readily process information about mathematics

Question 37

Attention-deficit disorder

Answer 37

disorder characterized by an inability to pay attention

Question 38

Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity disorder

Answer 38

disorder characterized by inability to pay attention and excess activity