Chapter 9: Stimulus Control and Concept Formation

These flashcards cover key concepts related to stimulus control and concept formation from Chapter 9's lecture.

Stimulus Control

The relationship between behaviors and the stimuli that precede them.

Generalization

The tendency to respond to novel stimuli similarly to how the subject responds to trained stimuli.

Generalization Gradients

How strong the response is to similar stimuli, typically measured along a dimension.

What causes generalization gradientts?

Innate? Pavlov - spread of activation of neurons

Learned? Is discrimination training needed

Probe Trials

Trials that measure behavior after presenting test trials in which you vary the trained stimulus along some dimension.

Discrimination Training

A process that teaches subjects to respond differently to different stimuli.

Positive Contrast

An increase in response rate due to a reduction of reinforcement at other times.

Negative Contrast

A decrease in response rate due to an increase in reinforcement at other times.

Behavioral Reallocation

The process of shifting time, effort, or other resources from one activity or behavior to another.

Habituation

Reduced response to a stimulus due to repeated exposure.

Satiation

Decrease in the desire for a reinforcer due to it losing value.

Absolute Learning

Learning specifics of S+ and S-. (Exact Gray)

Relational Learning

Learning how the S+ and S- are related. (Darker or lighter gray)

S+ (SD)

Stimulus that means rearward coming

S- (STriangle)

Stimulus that means no reward

Transposition

Proof of relational learning where a subject chooses based on the relationship between stimuli rather than specific stimulus characteristics.

Spence Peak Shift

The concept that behavior is influenced by both excitatory and inhibitory gradients around S+ and S- respectively.

Central Instances

Typical examples of a category that represent the best examples.

Peripheral Instances

Atypical examples of a category that may still belong to it.

Categorization in Animals

The ability of animals to categorize stimuli, which may not have clear distinctions.

Stimulus equivalence

Different things = same idea Ex: 6 or VI

Application of stimulus equivalence

In phobias, learning to read, insomnia