learning

Learning

Chapter 4

Learning

  • Relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs as a result of experience


Classical conditioning

  • Simple form of passive learning based on repeated association of two different stimuli to produce a response that was not previously produced

Unconditioned stimulus (UCS): stimuli that produces a naturally occurring involuntary response 

Unconditioned response (UCR): involuntary response occurring automatically as a result of the UCS

Neutral stimulus (NS): stimulus that does not initially cause the involuntary response 

Conditioned stimulus (CS): developed from the NS through repeated association with UCS

Conditioned response (CR): learned response produced by CS

Before conditioning

NS → no response

E.g. NS produces no relevant response. UCS produces UCR

During conditioning

NS + UCS →  UCR

E.g. Repeated presentation of NS just before UCS leads to UCR

After conditioning 

CS →  CR

E.g. CS produces the CR


Operant conditioning

  • Learning process whereby the consequences of a behaviour determine the likelihood that it will occur again

Antecedent (A): environmental stimulus that percedes the situation 

E.g. suzie has homework due tomorrow 

Behaviour (B): the action that has an effect on the environment to generate a consequence

E.g. suzie does not do the homework 

Consequence (C): the event that follows the outcome

E.g. suzie is given a detention 

Positive reinforcement

Adding something and the behaviour is likely to be reproduced in the future

Negative reinforcement

Removing something and the behaviour is likely to be reproduced in the future

Positive punishment

Adding something and the behaviour is unlikely to be reproduced in the future

Negative punishment

Removing something and the behaviour is unlikely to be reproduced in the future


Observational learning 

  • Learning involving watching behaviour of a model and accociated consequence of behaviour 

Attention: learner actively watching model behaviour and consequences 

Retention: learner storing mental representation of the behaviour 

Reproduction: learner has mental and physical ability to perform behaviour

Motivation: learner has desire to imitate the behaviour

Reinforcement: learner experiences positive outcome after performing the behaviour (more likely to repeat)

Types motivation

Intrinsic: occurs within individual

Extrinsic: occur external to individual 

Types of reinforcement 

Self reinforcement: behaviour reinforced through internal factors

External reinforcement: behaviour reinforced by external factors

Vicarious reinforcement: behaviour reinforced by observing reinforcement of another


Country 

  • All entities including all living and not living entities

  • Learning happens through relationships with country


Multimodal system in aboriginal peoples

  • Can be heard, observed, tasted, felt

  • E.g. story, song, dance, art


Kinship

  •  A persons responsibilities towards people, the land and resources

  • How people relate to one another, their knowledge and their suroundings

Dadirri: learning about country through listening and observing changes in a landscape

Songlines

  • Song narratives linked to a navigation route on country and to convey info such as different plants and people

  • Can be depicted in art, music


Memory

  • Active info processing system that receives, organises, stores and recovers info acquired through learning

Encoding

  • Info converted into a code to be stored in the memory

Storage

  • info retained over time in the brain

Retrieval 

  • Info recovered from storage when needed


Sensory memory

  • A store of memory that very briefly stores raw info detected by the senses 

Ionic memory

  • Stores visual sensory info

  • Duration of 0.2 - 0.4 sec

  • Capacity unlimited

Echoic memory

  • Stores auditory sensory info 

  • Duration of 3 - 4 sec

  • Capacity unlimited


Short term memory

  • A store of memory that temporarily stores a limited amount of info that is consciously being attended to and actively manipulated

  • Duration of 18 - 20 sec

  • Capacity of 7 +- 2 bits 

  • Increased through chunking


Long term memory

  • A store of memory that stores a relatively unlimited amount of info for a relatively permanent amount of time


implicit/ procedural memory

  • Formed and retrieved untentionally and unconsciously 

Procedural: motor skills and actions

Clasically conditioned: conditioned responce (inflicts fear) to conditioned stimuli

explicit/ declarative memory

  • Formed and retrieved intentionally and consciously

Semantic: consists of general knowledge facts

Episodic: consists of personal experiences of events


Brain structures in explicit

  • Hippocampus: primarily involved in encoding explicit memories

  • Amygdala: primarily involved in encoding emotional memories

  • Neocortex: stores explicit memories


Brain structures in implicit

  • Basal ganglia: encodes and stores procedural memories associated with unconscious habits and behaviours

  • Cerebellum: encodes and stores implicit procedural memories