Learning Flashcards
(17 cards)
What is the difference between developmental changes and learning?
Developmental changes are not learning; they are innate changes during growth (e.g., tadpoles to frogs).
What is innate behaviour?
Behaviour with a genetic component that is hardwired, performed similarly by all individuals.
What are the two main categories of learning?
Nonassociative learning and associative learning.
What is nonassociative learning? Name its two types.
Learning involving a single stimulus; includes habituation and sensitisation.
What is habituation?
Decreased response to a repeated, harmless stimulus.
What is sensitisation?
Increased response to a repeated stimulus, often threatening.
What is associative learning (stimulus-stimulus)?
Learning where one stimulus predicts a specific outcome (classical conditioning).
What is an appetitive stimulus? Give examples.
Positive, rewarding stimulus (e.g., mate, food, shelter).
What is an aversive stimulus? Give examples.
Negative, unpleasant stimulus (e.g., noxious odor, shock).
What key factor is essential for classical conditioning?
Contiguity — stimuli must be close together in time.
What is instrumental (operant) learning?
Learning where the animal performs a behaviour and is rewarded or punished, reinforcing or reducing the behaviour.
What must happen first in instrumental learning?
The animal must first perform the behaviour.
What is social facilitation?
Presence/activity of another animal increases motivation or activity level.
What is local enhancement?
Attention directed toward a place or object another animal is interacting with.
What is response facilitation?
Reaction to evolved signals like pheromone trails or alarm calls that reinforce behaviour.
What is imitation?
Copying a novel behaviour from another animal
What is teaching in animals?
Demonstrating novel behaviour to others to facilitate learning.
