Neuro 73: Learning theory Flashcards
Learning: What is it? v. maturation?
- relatively permanent change in behavior –> occurs as a result of experience
- behavior is the response, the environment or the experience is the stimulus
- maturation is something you become able to do physiologically as you age, it is not something that is learned
What are the 3 types of learning?
- classical conditioning
- operant conditioning
- social learning = modeling
Unconditioned stimulus
- this is the normal stimulus/event/object
- ex. w/ pavloc’s dog = the food
Unconditioned response
- the normal response to an event/stimulus
- ex. w/ pavlov’s dog this is the salivation in response to the food
Conditioned stimulus
- this is the new event/object/stimulus you are trying to introduce
- ex. w/ pavlov’s dog = the bell
Conditioned respose
- the response you get from the conditioned stimulus
- ex. the salivation from the bell w/ pavlov’s dog
Pairing
-associating the conditioned stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus
Generalization
- get the conditioned response when you use a stimuli similar to the conditoined stimuli
- the response to the secondary stimulus is dependent on how similar it is to the prrimary stimulus –> the more similar = the better the response you will get
Extinction
- AKA habituation
- when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the paired unconditioned stimulus the response gradually fades and over time stops
- if the association is weak, then this happens faster
- if the association was periodic then the extinction will occur more slowly
- *happens a lot with the olfactory system
- also occurs w/ operant learning over time when the reward/punishment is removed
Spontaneous recovery
- after a brief period of rest if the conditioned stimulus is again presented again it will elicit the conditioned response –> wont be as strong & will only last for a short period of time before habituation again
- like they forgot about the habituation
Discrimination
-the response to a similar stimuli will elicit a response (generalization) but if it is presented without the unconditioned stimulus the organism will only respond to the conditioned stimulus
Sensitization
- the response of an organism to an negative stimulus
- the response to the neg stimulus causes a change in the DNA of the neurons!
- CANT habituate a negative experience
Watson’s experiments w/ little Albert
- presented white furry rat
- put on mask and made a loud noise
- Albert “learned” that the rat was associated with a fearful situation –> his response then became generalized to other white furry objects!
Operant conditioning
-the probability of a behavior re-occurring is directly related to the manner in which the behavior is responded to
Positive reinforcement
- increases the probability that the behavior will be re-occurring
- give a reward for a behavior