learning

learning

a relatively permanent change in an organism's behavior due to experience

classical conditioning

a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events

unconditioned response (UR)

in classical conditioning

unconditioned stimulus (US)

in classical conditioning

conditioned response (CR)

in classical conditioning

conditioned stimulus (CS)

in classical conditioning

respondent behavior

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

operant conditioning

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

operant behavior

behavior that operates on the environment

law of effect

Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely

shaping

an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior

reinforcer

in operant conditioning

positive reinforcement

increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli

negative reinforcement

increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli

primary reinforcer

an innately reinforcing stimulus

conditioned reinforcer

none

continuous reinforcement

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

partial reinforcement

reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction

mirror neurons

frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so