Learning Final Flashcards
(50 cards)
What is an Unconditioned Stimulus (US)?
Something that naturally causes a response (like food)
US is a key concept in classical conditioning.
What is an Unconditioned Response (UR)?
The natural reaction (like drooling when you see food)
UR occurs automatically in response to the US.
What is a Conditioned Stimulus (CS)?
Something that starts off neutral, but after being paired with the US, causes the same response (like a bell)
CS becomes significant through association with the US.
What is a Conditioned Response (CR)?
The learned reaction to the CS (drooling to the bell)
CR is the result of conditioning.
What is the difference between a modulator and a discriminative stimulus (SD)?
A modulator tells you when a CS means something; a discriminative stimulus tells you when a behavior will lead to a consequence.
What is blocking in classical conditioning?
If a CS already predicts the US, a new CS doesn’t get learned.
What is unblocking in classical conditioning?
If something changes (like the reward gets bigger), then a new CS can be learned.
What is the three-term contingency in operant conditioning?
SD → Behavior → Consequence
This is a foundational concept in operant learning.
What does reinforcement mean in operant conditioning?
Behavior increases.
What is positive reinforcement?
Add something good (e.g., give candy).
What is negative reinforcement?
Take away something bad (e.g., turn off loud noise).
What does punishment mean in operant conditioning?
Behavior decreases.
What is positive punishment?
Add something bad (e.g., scolding).
What is negative punishment?
Take away something good (e.g., no TV).
What does SD stand for in stimulus control terms?
Go signal—do the behavior now!
What does SΔ (S-delta) represent?
Stop signal—no reward if you do it now.
What is extinction in operant conditioning?
When a learned behavior no longer gets rewarded, so it fades.
What is discrimination in the context of learning?
Learning the difference between when to respond and when not to.
What is generalization in the context of learning?
Responding to things that are similar to the SD.
What is continuous reinforcement?
Reward every time. Fast learning, but also fast forgetting.
What is partial reinforcement?
Reward only sometimes. Slower learning, but more lasting.
What is a Fixed Ratio (FR) schedule?
After a set number of actions (e.g., every 5 responses).
What is a Variable Ratio (VR) schedule?
Random number of actions (e.g., gambling).
What is a Fixed Interval (FI) schedule?
After a set amount of time (e.g., every 5 minutes).
