Learning Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is learning
Learning can be defined as a relatively permanent change in behaviour (or knowledge) that results from past experience.
Imagine a lab grown brain is connected to the world for the first time. Would it be able to understand anything
No, it has no prior learning. It has spent its time in isolation. It would just be confused
What are the three main types of learning
Simple - Habituation and sensitisation
General - Classical conditioning - event consequence
Operant conditioning - Action consequence
Specialised - Imitation, think, test, revise, insight, language, imprinting
Why are we focussed more on general learning
Because it can be used in many situations and it is flexible. It allows learning in new situations eg cats opening fridge door
What reflex of the sea slug are we interested in
The gill and siphon withdrawal reflex
What are sea slugs famous for
Can study learning and memory in a simple system. They have a very simple nervous system with 20, 000 neurons
What is sensitisation
Repeated stimulation produces a greater response each time
What is habituation
Repeated stimulation produces a smaller response each time
What are some differences between simple learning and other types of learning
- Simple learning tends to be one biological system eg gill and siphon
- Simple learning often involves reflexes
*Simple learning is usually involuntary
*Simple learning does not last long
*Change in behaviour is usually of a very restricted form
What is insight learning
When you have an a ha moment. Suddenly you know the answer.
What are the two main things that differentiate specialised learning from both general and simple learning
- It is restricted to certain species eg humans, apes
- It occurs in specific times in animals development
Give an example of event then consequence learning
If a dog hears a bell and gets fed eventually it will salivate to the sound of the bell. It has paired the bell with the food. The bell is the event, food is the consequence
Describe Thondike’s effect
Random actions that have a positive consequence will be repeated
Give an example the illustrates Thondike’s effect
Cats in cages learnt that pushing a button would let them escape. They got faster at escaping over time as they wanted to get out
Why does Skinner think we do not have free will
It is our history of learning that dictates our behaviour. We don’t have a choice for our behaviour
What is shaping
When you reward something for coming close to a desired behaviour. You then reward for behaviour that is gradually closer to what you want until you get desired behaviour
What is the difference between action consequence and event consequence learning
One starts with an event the other an action
Consequences can be both what…..
pleasant or unpleasant
If the chance of food occurring with the tone is the same as the chance of the food occurring when there is no tone will you get learning
No learning only occurs when you can predict the consequences. The chance of food needs to be greater or lesser with or without the tone.
If the chance of food occurring with no tone is greater than the chance of food occurring when there is tone will you get learning
Yes, it is predictive that tone means absence of food. Inhibitory learning
If the chance of food occurring with a tone is greater than the chance of the food occurring when there is no tone will you get learning
Yes, you can predict that tone means food.
What is extinction
When a previously learned response stops because the reward is not given
An animal is presented with a tone, followed by a shock. Identify the CS and the US
Conditioned stimulus is the bell, the unconditioned stimulus is the shock
An animal is present with a ticking metronome followed by sugar pellets. ID the CS and the US
Conditioned stimulus is the metronome, the unconditioned stimulus is the sugar pellets
