Ch. 6 Learning

Learning

A long-lasting change in behavior resulting from experience.

Neuroplasticity

The ability of the brain to change throughout an individual’s life.

Long-term potentiation (LTP)

A persistent strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity.

Unconditional Stimulus

The original stimulus that automatically triggers a response, such as dog food for a dog.

Unconditioned Response

The unlearned response that occurs naturally in reaction to the unconditioned stimulus, like salivation in response to dog food.

Neutral Stimulus

A stimulus that initially does not produce a response, such as a bell before conditioning.

Conditioned Stimulus

A previously neutral stimulus that, after becoming associated with the unconditioned stimulus, eventually comes to trigger a conditioned response.

Conditioned Response

The learned response to the previously neutral stimulus, like salivation at the sound of the bell.

Acquisition

The phase in classical conditioning where the neutral stimulus becomes associated with the unconditioned stimulus.

Extinction

The process of unlearning a behavior where the conditioned stimulus no longer elicits the conditioned response.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of no exposure to the conditioned stimulus.

Generalization

The tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus, such as different bell sounds.

Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between different stimuli, responding specifically to the conditioned stimulus.

First Order Conditioning

The process of pairing a neutral stimulus directly with an unconditioned stimulus.

Second Order Conditioning

Pairing a new neutral stimulus with an already conditioned stimulus to create a new conditioned response.

Learned Taste Aversions

A learned association between the taste of a particular food and illness.

Law of Effect

Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, while behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely.

Positive Reinforcement

The addition of a pleasant stimulus following a behavior to increase its occurrence.

Negative Reinforcement

The removal of an unpleasant stimulus following a behavior to increase its occurrence.

Positive Punishment

Adding an aversive stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.

Negative Punishment

Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.

Escape Conditioning

Learning to leave an aversive stimulus.

Avoidance Conditioning

Learning to avoid an unpleasant stimulus altogether.

Shaping

Reinforcing successive approximations toward a desired behavior.

Chaining

Linking together a series of behaviors to form a complex activity.

Primary Reinforcers

Innate reinforcers such as food and water that satisfy biological needs.

Secondary Reinforcers

Stimuli that acquire reinforcing qualities through association with primary reinforcers.

Premack Principle

The idea that the preferred activity can reinforce a less preferred activity.

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcing a behavior every time it occurs.

Partial Reinforcement

Reinforcing a behavior only occasionally.

Fixed Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement is delivered after a fixed number of responses.

Variable Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement is delivered after a variable number of responses.

Fixed Interval Schedule

Reinforcement is delivered after a fixed amount of time has passed.

Variable Interval Schedule

Reinforcement is delivered after varying amounts of time.

Observational Learning

Learning that occurs through observing and imitating others.

Contingency Model

Rescorla's model stating that reliable prediction of one event by another is crucial for conditioning.

Abstract Learning

The ability to understand concepts rather than just perform learned actions.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs without reinforcement but is not immediately reflected in behavior.

Insightful Learning

A sudden realization of how to solve a problem without trial-and-error.