Attention Theories in Learning

These flashcards cover the key vocabulary and theories regarding the Macintosh and Pierce Hall attention models, including experimental effects like latent inhibition and partial reinforcement extinction.

Attention (Learning Perspective)

The concept that the brain selectively chooses to pay attention to specific stimuli in the environment in order to learn about them.

Latent inhibition effect

A phenomenon where pre-exposure to a stimulus (like a light) without any consequence causes an animal to learn more slowly about that stimulus later; also known as the CS pre-exposure effect.

Summation and retardation tests

Tests required to demonstrate that a stimulus is truly inhibitory by showing it actively suppresses the memory of the unconditioned stimulus; the latent inhibition effect fails these tests.

Rescuela Wagner model

A learning theory based on the idea that learning is triggered by surprise; it struggles to account for the latent inhibition effect because it assumes associative strength remains at zero if no food or consequence is present.

Nick Macintosh model

An attention theory stating that the brain must first decide what to pay attention to before associations form, and that attention increases for stimuli paired with important events but declines for those that are repeated without consequence.

Inverse law of selective attention

The principle that attention is a limited resource; if one stimulus grabs more attention, there is less attention available for other stimuli.

k parameter

In the Rescuela Wagner model, this determines the speed of learning; the Macintosh model proposes this parameter changes over time based on the amount of attention paid to a stimulus.

Blocking (Macintosh interpretation)

The theory that because attention is limited, a stimulus pre-exposed in phase 1 (Stimulus A) captures most of the attention, leaving very little for a second stimulus (Stimulus B) introduced in phase 2.

John Pierce and Jeff Hall model

An alternative attention theory proposing that attention is proportional to surprise or how unpredictable an unconditioned stimulus is, meaning we pay most attention to things we don't fully understand.

Surprise term (Pierce Hall)

Represented by the formula $\lambda - \sum V$, it describes the extent to which an unconditioned stimulus was not predicted.

Orienting responses

Physical behaviors, such as a rat standing on its hind paws to sniff a light, used by researchers like Pierce to measure attention directly.

Partial reinforcement group

A group where a conditioned stimulus is followed by an unconditioned stimulus only on $50\%$ of the trials, typically resulting in higher sustained attention according to the Pierce Hall theory.

Partial reinforcement extinction effect (PREE)

The finding that a stimulus reinforced on a partial schedule is more difficult to extinguish than one that was continuously reinforced.

Continuous reinforcement group

A group where the conditioned stimulus is followed by food on $100\%$ of the trials; according to Macintosh, this group experiences faster extinction because it maintains high attention to the stimulus.

Cold turkey

An extinction method of quitting a habit (like smoking) immediately rather than weaning into a partial schedule, which avoids making the conditioned response 'sticky' and difficult to extinguish.