learning Flashcards
distribution of learning, learning, habituation, classical conditioning, learning to like the right-hand side of space and how to detect a lie, features of classical conditioning, learning to control the world - instrumental conditioning, what is learned during learning (39 cards)
can humans learn in their sleep?
yes, including about their external environment (Arzi)
1200Hz - deodorant
400Hz tone - rotten fish
is learning the acquisition of information?
has problems - buildings don’t learn but acquire information
is learning the acquisition of information by a biological organism?
but tech seems to show learning
what is learning?
no generally-accepted definition
a relatively permanent change in behaviour as a consequence of experience
what is the problem of behavioural silence?
when behaviour isn’t changed
why do organisms learn?
a reflex arc (reflexes = fast, automatic)
however many organisms live in environments that have predicted relationships between events
but predictive relationships may change (finding food in summer vs winter)
to survive, animals must modify their behaviour as a consequence of their experience with the environment
can use predictive relationships to change behaviour - rather than being entirely responsive
what is habituation?
“the relatively persistent warning of a response as a result of repeated stimulation which is not followed by any kind of reinforcement” (Hinde, 1970)
what was Whitlow’s (1975) study into habituation?
subjects = rats
response = vasoconstriction (blood volume) in ear
stimuli = 530 or 4000 Hz tones, counterbalanced
when same stimulus, saw weaker response compared to control stimulus
stimulus specific habituation effect
effect diminished with 150 seconds between two stimuli
what was Cross et al’s study into habituation?
subjects = neonatal rats split into two groups (Mozart and Schoenberg group)
stimuli = 12 hours per day exposure to vocal and non-vocal selections of Mozart or Schoenberg’s music for 52 days
response = choice to entering a compartment of a box playing novel Mozart or Schoenberg’s music, 15 days after exposure phase
acquisition of musical preference in rats
avoidance of some aversive aspect of the music habituated with exposure
what was Domjan’s study into habituation?
subjects = water-deprived rats split into two groups (S and W)
group S = 30 minute access to sweetened water then 30 minute water per day
group W = 30 minute access to just water per day
response = consumption in ml each day across 20 days0
W = consuming 15 ml each day
S = at first avoided sweetened water then as exposure increased, increase in sweetened water consumed
show how learning and innate behaviour can work together to be adaptive (rats are cautious about novel flavours - sensible, reduces chance of poisoning; with experience, diet can be widened through habituation
what is classical conditioning?
first reported by Pavlov (1927) - conducted many experiments along with a team of scientists
many more classical conditioning experiments continue to be conducted by psychologists and neuroscientists across the world to this day - most don’t explore salivation in dogs but do use terminology he developed
Pavlov’s terminology can describe very different learning experiments that use different responses or stimuli with same language
what is the unconditioned stimulus?
a biologically significant stimulus
e.g. food or pain
what is the unconditioned response?
the response evoked by the US
what is the conditioned stimulus?
a previously neutral stimulus (e.g. bell or light) that acquires a response by being paired with the US
what is the conditioned response?
response evoked by CS
what is classical conditioning as learning?
the behaviour of Pavlov’s dogs changed in a relatively permanent fashion (the dog acquired a CR) as a consequence of experience (pairing CS with US)
appetitive conditioning (US, food, is pleasant)
aversive conditioning (US unpleasant)
what was Martin and Levey’s (1991) classical conditioning study?
CR = blinking
at first relatively little evidence of blinking during the lights (CS)
blinking elicited by the CS that predicted the air puff (US)
very functional - eyelid responses anticipate irritations and protect the eye
what was Smith and Roll’s conditioning experiment?
experimental group training = rats allowed to drink sucrose solution (CS) then given one dose of X radiation to make them feel nauseous (US), interval between CS and US varied between groups
control group training = same as above, X rays not delivered when button pressed
final test = choice between sucrose solution and water in both groups
conditioning when substantial interval between CS and US, was only one CS-US pairing
is this a “special” form of conditioning? maybe - being able to acquire an aversion quickly and over a long interval is functional and maybe an adaptive specialisation
why do right-handers prefer right-hand side?
people prefer their dominant side of space
what are the features of classical conditioning?
acquisition
extinction
spontaneous recovery
what is acquisition?
initial increase in responding to a CS when its paired with a US
what is extinction?
the weakening of CR if CS is subsequently presented without the US
what is spontaneous recovery?
an increase in an extinguished CR due to the passage of time
what is exposure therapy?
application of extinction
presenting client with stimulus that is resulting in maladaptive behaviour
