CH6 Learning

nonassociative learning

learning to adjust responses to a repeated stimulus

associative learning

learning about the link between two stimuli or events that go together

social learning

learning by instruction or observing how others behave

habituation (nonassociative)

when our behavioural response to stimulus decrease

sensitisation (nonassociative)

when our behavioural response to a stimulus increases

classical conditioning

when we learn that a stimulus predicts another stimulus

operant conditioning

when we learn that a behaviour leads to a consequence

unconditioned response

an unlearned automatic behaviour

unconditioned stimulus

without training

acquisition definition

the formation of an association between a conditioned stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus. 

extinction definition

conditioned response is extinguished when the CS no longer predicts the US

spontaneous recovery

when the extinguished CS again produced a CR (fades quickly if US+CS does not continue)

what does spontaneous recovery tell us?

that extinction replaced the associative bond but not eliminate it.

what is the Rescorla-Wagner model?

The model says that learning happens when an outcome (US) is surprising.

what does positive prediction error do?

strengthens association between CS and US

what does negative prediction error do?

weakens CS-US association

stimulus generalisation

stimuli are similar but not identical to the CS produce the CR

stimulus discrimination

occurs when an animal learns to differentiate between two similar stimuli IF one is associated with US and the other is not

second-order conditioning

when a new CS is associated with original CS can elicit CR 

What is spontaneous recovery?

The return of a conditioned response after a rest period following extinction.

Operant Conditioning

requires voluntary action to be performed and has consequence which determines the likelihood of the action being repeated

what is thorndike’s Law of Effect?

any behaviour that leads to a “satisfying state of affairs” is likely to occur again and vice versa. 

what is behaviourism?

emphasis on environmental effects on observable behaviours

what is a reinforcer?

a stimulus that occurs after a response and increases likelihood of response being repeated

what does reinforcement do?

always increases behaviour

what is positive reinforcement?

increases the probability of that behaviour being repeated

what is negative reinforcement?

increases behaviour through the removal of a unpleasant stimulus.

what is positive punishment?

decrease the behaviour’s probability through giving of stimulus

what is negative punishment

decreases the behaviours probability through removal of a usually pleasant stimulus.

In Pavlov’s experiment, what is the unconditioned stimulus (US)?

Food

In Pavlov’s experiment, what is the unconditioned response (UR)?

Salivation to food.

What is prediction error?

The difference between the actual and expected outcome.

How does a positive prediction error affect learning?

It strengthens the association.

How does a negative prediction error affect learning?

It weakens the association.

What does the Rescorla-Wagner model propose?

The strength of a CS-US association depends on how unexpected the US is.

What role does dopamine play in learning?

It signals prediction errors.

What is blocking in classical conditioning?

When a perfectly predicted outcome prevents new associations from forming.

What is fear conditioning?

A type of classical conditioning where neutral stimuli become feared stimuli.

What is stimulus generalization?

Responding to stimuli similar, but not identical, to the conditioned stimulus.

What is stimulus discrimination?

Differentiating between similar stimuli when only one is consistently paired with the US.

What is shaping?

Reinforcing behaviors that are progressively closer to the desired behavior.

What is a fixed interval schedule?

Reinforcement after a set amount of time.

What is a variable ratio schedule?

Reinforcement after a random number of responses.