Learning Exam 1

PSY 402 Learning Sept. 24

dualism

According to this view, there are two classes of human behavior: involuntary and voluntary. It posits that the mind and body are distinct entities that interact with one another.

reflex

Involuntary behavior is mediated by this special mechanism.

involuntary behavior

What behavior is reflexive?

mentalism; reflexology

The mind-body dualism introduced by Descartes stimulated two intellectual traditions, _________ and __________.

empiricism

A philosophical approach that states that the mind starts out as a clean slate and is gradually filled with ideas and information as the person encounters various sense experiences.

hedonism

The idea that people do things in the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain.

association

The concept that we associate words with objects and make connections all the time.

contiguity, similarity, contrast

Aristotle proposed three principles for the establishment of associations:

nonsense syllables

Hermann Ebbinghaus invented _________ _________, which were three-letter combinations devoid of any meaning that might influence how someone might react to them.

ability to learn

Romanes defined intelligence in terms of the ______ __ _____.

nervism

According to this principle committed to by Pavlov, all key physiological functions are governed by the nervous system.

learning

An enduring change in the mechanisms of behavior involving specific stimuli and/or responses that results from prior experience with those or similar stimuli and responses.

performance

All of the actions of an organism at a particular time.

fatigue

The result of physical exertion; also results in a gradual reduction in the vigor of a response

change in stimulus conditions

Behavior may be temporarily altered by a _____ __ ______ ________.

maturation

A change in behavior due to the passage of time; is not an instance of learning

developmental changes

Changes in learning that occur as a function of age

general-process approach

The assumption that diverse learning phenomena across different situations and species share common, fundamental underlying rules and mechanisms

sensory neuron

A neuron that transmits the sensory message to the spinal cord

motor neuron

A neuron that activates the muscles involved in the reflex response.

interneuron

A neuron that ensures that particular sensory neurons are connected to a corresponding set of motor neurons.

reflex arc

Consists of the afferent neuron, interneuron, and efferent neuron; represents the fewest neural connections necessary for reflex action.

respiratory occlusion reflex

A reflex that is stimulated by reduced air flow.

modal action patterns

Response sequences that are typical of a particular species.

sign stimulus

A specific environmental cue that triggers an instinctive, pre-set behavioral sequence in an animal. Also known as a releasing stimulus.

supernormal stimulus

An exaggerated sign stimulus that elicits an especially vigorous response (ex. tasting something sweet and feeling encouraged to eat)

appetitive behavior

An active searching process that precedes consummatory behavior and is indicative of desire. Influenced by learning and prior experience.

consummatory behavior

The final response in a natural chain of behaviors directed toward achieving a goal. For example, eating (to reduce hunger) is the final act of the sequence of responses involved in foraging for food, and copulation (to reduce the sex drive) is the final act of sexual behavior.

general search mode

Occurs when an animal does not yet know where to look for food. An animal will move around and look for potential sources of food.

focal search mode

Once an animal finds a source for food, they will switch to this mode and begin to search only for consumable/ripe food.

food handling and ingestion mode

Once an animal finds something perfect for eating, they will switch to this mode.

habituation effect

The decline in responding that occurs with repeated presentation of a stimulus.

stimulus specific

If individuals are habituated to the taste of lemon and show invigorated responses when tested with the taste of lime at the end of the experiment, then that habituation is _______ _______.

sensitization effect

A learning process in which repeated administration of a stimulus results in the progressive amplification of a response.

spontaneous recovery

Refers to the re-emergence of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a delay

sensory adaptation

A reduction in sensitivity to a sensory stimulus after constant exposure to it. Learn how it works and why it happens.