Learning and Memory L7

Learning

A process that expresses itself as an adaptive change in behaviour in response to experience.

Acquisition

Initial stage of new info or behaviours are learned.

Consolidation

Stabilizing the learned info into long-term memory.

Retrieval

Accessing learned info for use.

Extinction

Weakening or loss of learned info or behaviour when reinforcement is no longer given.

Memory

Encoding, storage, and retrieval (or forgetting) of info about past experience.

Encoding

Converting info into a form that can be stored in the brain.

Storage

Maintaining the encoded info over time.

Retrieval (Memory)

Accessing and using the stored info when needed. Forgetting can occur if retrieval fails or if the memory trace decays over time.

Epinephrin

Adrenaline - Most studies hormone with regard to learning and memory. Enhances memory (dose and time dependant).

Glucocorticoids

Effects through acute stress enhances memory, chronic stress impairs memory.

Cortisol treatment

Increases recall of pictures. Negative stimuli more likely recalled.

Glucocorticoids and Stress

Elevated glucocorticoids at time of memory assessment impairs performance.

Oestrogens

Improve spatial memory performance in rats. Enhanced working (short term) but not reference memory.

Androgens

Positive reinforcing properties (place preference). Novel object recognition. Performance operant tasks.

Arousal

Physiological or psychological state of being awoken, or of sense organs stimulated to a point of perception.

Short-term memory

Or working memory; Seconds to minutes; Rehearsing to move items from short- to long-term memory.

Long-term memory

Or reference memory; Days, Weeks, or years.

Declarative memory

Things you know that you can tell others.

Episodic memory

Remembering an event (like high school grad).

Semantic memory

Like knowing the capital of Australia.

Procedural memory

Things you know that you can show by doing.

Skill learning

Like learning piano.

Priming

More likely to use a word you heard recently.

Conditioning

Pavlov's dogs.

Non-associative learning

Repeated presentation of a single stimulus.

Sensitisation

A loud noise becomes more annoying the more you hear it.

Habituation

Stop hearing clock ticking the more you hear it.

Associative learning

Relationship learning.

Classical conditioning

Pavlov's dogs.

Operant Conditioning

Skinner box (rat presses lever to get food).

Active avoidance

Mouse jumps to other side of box to avoid shock after a warning tone.

Passive avoidance

Rat avoids dark side of box where it previously received a shock.