Unit 2; Learning and Memory

Question 1

What is classical conditioning

Answer 1

process of learning that is involuntary and associates neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus

Question 2

What are the 3 stages of classical conditioning

Answer 2

Before, During, After

Question 3

Define Neutral Stimulus (NS)

Answer 3

Stimulus that doesn’t produce a natural occurring response

Question 4

Define Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Answer 4

A stimulus that elicits a response without previous learning (eg. Food makes dogs salvate)

Question 5

Define Unconditioned Response (UCR)

Answer 5

Unlearned, natural response to an UCS

Question 6

Define Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Answer 6

Stimulus that produces a response after learning occurred. It used to be the NS

Question 7

Define Conditioned Response (CR)

Answer 7

A response that is produced by the CS after learning has taken place

Question 8

What is Operant Learning

Answer 8

A process of learning that is voluntary which involves the use of reinforcers/punishers

Question 9

What is the 3-phase model for operant conditioning

Answer 9

ABC - Antecedent, Behaviour, Consequence (What happened before, What happens, What happens after)

Question 10

What is the role of Reinforcers including the function of positive and negative reinforcement

Answer 10

They increase the likely-hood of repeating an action
Positive - reward
Negative - avoid a negative experience.

Question 11

What is the role of Punishers including the function of positive and negative punishments

Answer 11

They decrease the likely-hood of repeating an action
Positive - a behaviour followed by a punishment (detention)
Negative - something taken away

Question 12

Effective punishment

Answer 12

3 things must happen for it to be effective
It must be Consistent
The punishment must fit the action
It has to be immediately after

Question 13

What is Observational learning

Answer 13

when an individual sees another person do an action (positive or negative) and use it to guide their future

Question 14

Social cognitive approach

Answer 14

it’s a theory that states learning comes from social settings which involves various cognitive processes

Question 15

5 stages of Observational learning

Answer 15

Attention
Retention
Reproduction
Motivation
Reinforcement

Question 16

Encoding

Answer 16

converting info to a usable form so it can be used and stored

Question 17

Storage

Answer 17

maintaining information over time

Question 18

Retrieval

Answer 18

The ability to take information from LTM to STM

Question 19

Sensory Memory

Answer 19

It’s the entry point for info and is NOT encoded

The capacity is unlimited and the time where the info is stored is 0.2-4 seconds

Question 20

Short Term Memory

Answer 20

info that is conciously being attended too.
Duration 12-30 seconds
Capacity 5-9 pieces of info

Question 21

Iconic Memory

Answer 21

It lasts 0.33 seconds and it’s used to identify the stimulus.

Question 22

Echoic Memory

Answer 22

Auditory sensory memory, stores sounds from 3-4 seconds and is vital for language comprehension as it helps us process a whole word.

Question 23

Chunking

Answer 23

The grouping or packing bits of information so that it becomes one as this increases the amount of info we can retain

Question 24

Rehearsal

Answer 24

When you do an action so memory is retained and retrieved

Question 25

Maintenance Rehearsal

Answer 25

The conscious process of constantly going back and repeating a specific action so it can be remembered easier

Question 26

Elaborative Rehearsal

Answer 26

Attaching meaning to learning that needs to be remembered

Question 27

Long term memory (LTM)

Answer 27

If you have the correct cues then information can be taken.
Unlimited Capacity/Duration

Question 28

Explicit Memory

Answer 28

Memories retrieved consciously that is used for a specific use/need
This includes Semantic (Facts) and Episodic (Personal events)

Question 29

Implicit Memory

Answer 29

Doesn’t need consciousness and is effortless.
Unaware of what’s being remembered
Made of Classically conditioned (fear or reflexes)/procedural memories (How to)

Question 30

Hippocampus

Answer 30

Encodes new explicit semantic and episodic memories. After a while it helps with the consolidation of these memories. Acts with the Amygdala

Question 31

Amygdala

Answer 31

recognises danger, also involved in processing our emotional reactions.
Classically conditioned responses are encoded
Activates the hippocampus

Question 32

Neocortex

Answer 32

Processes, stores and retrieves explicit memories.
After hippocampus encodes memories it interacts.
Memories of specific experiences go throughout the whole neocortex
some areas are specialised for different aspects of a memory

Question 33

Basal Ganglia

Answer 33

encodes motor element of implicit procedural memories which includes movement that’s voluntary.
Stores habituation learning and decreases response to stimuli when repeated

Question 34

cerebellum

Answer 34

encodes and stores; implicit procedural memory and simple motor reflexes from Classical Conditioning

Question 35

Autobiographical events

Answer 35

personally lived experiences that are stored in the LTM but when talked about it’s retrieved and put into STM

Question 36

Mnemonics

Answer 36

strategies that help convert a lot of information into something meaningful and easy to remember

Question 37

Acronym

Answer 37

uses the first letter of each word to make another word which aids in encoding and storing memories
Example;
NSW (New South Wales)

Question 38

Acrostic

Answer 38

first letter of each word to make a poem, it’s useful for info you need in a specific order
e.g Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit.

Question 39

Method of Loci

Answer 39

converts items into mental images and specific locations.

Question 40

Sung Narratives

Answer 40

stories that share important info to a particular group of people