Learning and Memory

Learning

when a relatively permanent change in behaviour occurs as a result of experience

Classical Conditioning

learning occurs through the association of two or more different stimuli

Operant Conditioning

learning occurs through the consequences of the behaviour which influences the likelihood of the behaviour occurring again

Three Stages of Classical Conditioning

Before, During and After Conditioning

Stages of Observational Learning

Attention, Retention, Reproduction, Motivation and Reinforcement

Attention

Actively focuses

Retention

The learner makes a mental representation and remembers it

Reproduction

Does the learner have the physical and mental capabilities to perform the action

Motivation

The learners wants to perform the skill

Reinforcement

If the learner receives desirable consequences they are more likely to perform the behaviour in the future

Positive Reinforcement

Add a good stimulus

Negative Reinforcement

Take away a bad stimulus

Positive Punishment

Add bad stimulus

Negative Punishment

Take away good stimulus

Hippocampus

Consolidation of explicit memories to make them neurologically stable and long lasting

Alzheimers Disease

is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by the progress of decline of memory and other cognitive functions

Neurofibilliary Tangles

A build up of the protein Tau within the neuron preventing effective neuronal transmission

Amyloid Plaque

A build up of protein in the axon terminals of the neuron preventing effective neuronal transmission across the synapse between neurons

Aphantasia

The inability to form visual forms of mental imagery

Amygdala

Attaches emotional significance to memory to strengthen encoding of the memory

The emotional aspect of classically conditioned responses

Neocortex

Storage of explicit memories

Basal Ganglia

Formation of implicit procedural memories

Cerebellum

The storage of classically conditioned responses