Learning and Plasticity

Brain Plasticity

The brain’s ability to change structure and function in response to experience.

Critical Period

A maturational stage during which the nervous system is sensitive to certain stimuli.

Stimulus Response Learning

Learning through the association of stimuli and anticipating events, including classical and operant conditioning.

Classical Conditioning

A process by which we learn to associate a stimulus and to anticipate events.

Operant Conditioning

Learning to associate behavior with its consequences, either punishment or reinforcement.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a stimulus to increase a behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing a stimulus to increase a behavior.

Positive Punishment

Adding a stimulus to decrease behavior.

Negative Punishment

Removing a stimulus to decrease behavior.

Observational Learning

Learning that occurs by watching others and imitating their behavior.

Motor Learning

Learning to perform a movement skill as a result of practice.

Cognitive Maps

Internal representations of external spaces used to influence stimulus-response pairings.

Long Term Potentiation (LTP)

A persistent increase in synaptic strength after repeated stimulation.

Hebbian Theory

The principle that neurons that fire together wire together, proposing a theory of learning based on strengthening connections between co-active neurons.

Relational Learning

Understanding spatial relationships and using them to navigate environments.