Single Stimulus Learning

elicited behavior

unconditioned and native behavior

reflexes

experiencing sensation and eliciting reaction B without any form of learning

mediated by spinal neurons, not the brain

ex: touching a hot plate

modal action patterns

behavior patterns that occur similarly in most members of a species

ex: some facial expressions in humans and specific foraging behaviors in animals

habituation effect

lowers the intensity of the response

sensitization effect

strengthens the intensity of the response

generalization

applies to habituation

a sufficiently dissimilar stimulus will elicit a non-habituated response

spontaneous recovery

when the effects of habituation wear off after a brief break after training

response magnitude increases again to a slightly lower point than the initial

occurs after short-term habituation

dishabituation

caused by presentation of a novel stimulus that disrupts learning process

dual process theory

stimulus preexposure effects are governed by 2 different areas of the nervous system: S-R system and state system

S-R system

3 types of neuron: sensory, interneuron, and motor neuron

neural circuit

state system

all other neural processes, physiological arousal / stress

everything else going on in the body at the time

nucleus

contains DNA, the genetic code that makes you you

DNA is translated to RNA, which leaves the nucleus

ribosomes

reads mRNA and translates into proteins, essential structures for cellular function

mitochondria

ATP is produced through cellular respiration

transcription

the process by which DNA is copied into RNA

translation

the process by which mRNA is used to create proteins

resting potential

homeostatic charge of the neuron

maintained by sodium (Na) and potassium (K) ions

action potential

electrical signal initiated by depolarization of the neuron

depolarizes

Na flowing into the neuron

repolarizes

K flowing out of the neuron

synaptic transmission

action potential triggers the release of neurotransmitters

Ca flows into the terminal buttons and triggers vesicles to release neurotransmitter

aplysia

sea slugs with a simple nervous system, large neurons, and invariant neural anatomy

quanta

amount of neurotransmitter released from a single synaptic vesicle

short term sensitization

involves biochemical cascade (serotonin, K channel, Ca channel)