Non-Associative Learning
What do we mean by Learning?
Learning is the acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience. Typically learning is revealed by a change in behavioural, physiological and/or neural reactions/response.
Non-Associative Learning
Habituation
Sensitisation
PASS PSYU2236 W2 COMPLETED WS.docx
PSYU2236
Test Your Knowledge Quiz:
As per SLIDO quiz:
QI: Which process best explains why the first
bite of food typically tastes the best?
Q2: What is habituation?
cannot smell our own home, but
we instantly notice the smell of other homes.
*a = sensitization
*c = Associative leaming (classical cond)
Q3: What is sensitization?
_&xamplezmosquito sound
Q4: What is the definition of learning in
psychology?
Q5: Which of the following is an example of
habituation?
*a, b,c = Sensitization
Q6: What is dishabituation?
Exam le.
Habituation to fridge noise addition of a novel
stimulus reorients the perceiver to the
habituated stimulus. ..ü Dishabituation to fridge
noise
Habituation to traffic noise crossing street
0 Siren would alert edestrians to the traffic!
Q7: Which of the following is NOT a level at
which learning can occur?
Q8: According to the dual-process theory what
determines the observable behaviour in
habituation and sensitization?
Q9: Which is untrue of habituation?
*this is sensitisation
*nw; sensitisation generalises to other stimuli
QIO: What is the difference betvveen habituation
and sensory adaptation?
QII: What is this an example of?
"if you jump into a pool of cold
water, after a few minutes you start to
adapt. After about 15 minutes if you
try to get the initial feeling of jumping
into the cool water you can't"
* With Sensory Adaptation you can't
reca ture the initial stimulus
Q12: What is this an example of?
"there is annoying
sound, which you eventually
tune it out, but if you attend
to it, you hear it again"
*With Habituation, you can recapture
the stimulus = dishabituate
**exce t evolutiona u osese. . c in bab
Q13: A stimulus of intermediate intensity often
results in:
*Low intensity stimulus = habituation
*Hi h intensit stimulus = sensitisation
Q14: Why don't we habituate to mosquitos or a
baby crying?
*It is adaptive to sensitise to them
*Evolutionary sig can override intensity
Q15: True or False: "Habituation and
sensitization can co-occur"
Al:
a) Habituation
b) Sensitisation
c Dishabituation
a) An increase in response amplitude or
frequency as a consequence of repeated
experience with a stimulus
b) A decrease in response amplitude or
frequency as a consequence of repeated
experience with a stimulus
c The rocess of associatin two stimuli
a) A decrease in response amplitude or
frequency as a consequence of repeated
experience with a stimulus
b) An increase in response amplitude or
frequency as a consequence of repeated
experience with a stimulus
c The rocess of fo ettin information
a) The acquisition of knowledge or skills through
experience
b) The ability to memorize facts quickly
c) The process of aging and maturing
d The inheritance of traits from rents
a) Jumping at the sound of a loud noise
b) Becoming more alert when hearing a baby
cry
c) Ignoring the smell of your own perfume
d Res ondin stron I toa mos uito buzz
a) Recovery in responsiveness to an already
habituated stimulus
b) The failure to habituate to a stimulus
c) The process of becoming sensitized to a
stimulus
a) Behavioural
b) Physiological
c) Neural
d Genetic
a) The habituation process
b) The habituation process minus the
sensitization process
c) The sum of habituation and sensitization
processes
a) The stronger the stimulus the more
rapid/likely the habituation
b)The weaker the stimulus the more rapid/likely
the habituation
c) Habituation is stimulus-specific
d) Repeated exposure to a stimuli can result in
a decrease in the response elicited
AIO:
a) Habituation is temporary sensory adaptation
is permanent
b) Habituation is a leamed response, sensory
adaptation is physical
c) Sensory adaptation is a learned response,
habituation is physical
d) There is no difference, they are the same
rocess
All:
a) Sensitisation
b) Desensitization
c) Sensory adaptation
d) Habituation
A12:
a) Dishabituation
b) Habituation
c) Sensitization
A13:
a) A period of sensitisation then habituation.
b) Habituation
c Sensitisation
Q14:
a) The stimulus intensity overrides the
evolutionary significance
b) The stimulus is not threatening
The stimulus carries evolutiona si nificance
c
K Terms:
Habituation
Repeated exposure to a
stimuli = decrease in
response
Stimulus specific
Bonus Questions:
Dishabituation
Recovery in responsiveness
to an already habituated
stimulus
A15:
a) True
b False
Sensitisation
Repeated exposure to a
stimuli = increase in
response
Typically not stimulus-
specific
Desensitisation
Repeated exposure to a
stimuli = decrease in
response amplitude
1. What is the difference between classical and o erant conditionin ?
a) Classical conditioning involves voluntary behaviours, operant does not
b) Classical conditioning pairs two stimuli, operant pairs behaviours with consequences
c) Classical conditioning only works with animals, operant works with humans
d) There is no significant difference between the tvvo types of conditioning
2. What is the
ical sha e of the learnin curve in classical conditionin ?
a) Linear, steadily increasing
b) Exponential, rapidly increasing
c) Negatively accelerating, with rapid initial learning that slows over time
(*rate of change decreases over time)
d) U-shaped, with poor performance at the beginning and end
STUDY TIPS:
- Restructure the content in a format that is easy for you to summarise (e.g., tables)
- Familiarise yourself with the key terms each week.
Next Session...
The Neuron
+ Groups activities, quiz, and take-home worksheet!
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Week 1 Worksheet
- ANSWERS.docx
PASS PSYU2236 Week 2
Terminology
Term
Non-associative Learnin
Orientin Re onse
Habituation
Dishabituation
Senso Ada ation
Sensitization
Desensitization
Associative Learning
Definition
e in behavior e. . ac uisition ofnew skills due to erience
The abili to notice or i ore stimulus based on certain factors
The tenden to attention to anew stimulus
A decrease in the fr uen or intensi ofres ondin to a stimulus
An increase in frequency or intensity of responding to a habituated
stimulus back to baseline
livmen sens
rec torssto res ncl' toa stimulus due to fati ue
An increase in fre uen or intensi ofres ndin to a stimulus
A decrease in frequency or intensity of responding to a sensitized
stimulus back to baseline
earning that involves the associating a response to a particular
L
stimulus
Non-associative Learning
Q: M,'hat factors determine Whether a stimulus is habituated vs. sensitized to?
A: Physical Intensity and Evolutionary Significance
Q: M,'hat is the difference between Habituation and Sensory Adaptation?
A: Habituation is a leaming process whereas sensory adaptation occurs on the level of signal neurons/receptors Behaviourally,
someone can attend to a habituated stimulus, however, because the sensory input is not being sent to the brain someone cannot
attend to a stimulus that is omitted due to sensory adaptation.
Dual Process Theory
Groves, P.M., & Thompson, R.F. (1970). Habituation: A dual-process theory. Psychological Review, 77, 419—450.
doi:10.1037/h0029810.
Q: In your words describe I)ual Process Theory ofHabituation and Sensitization.
A: Habituation and Sensitization are two separate but interconnected processes. wmichever process has the strongest signal will
win out.
Q: Given Dual Process Theory, describe what would happen in the follouing situations. (Assume that the top line signifies
Habituation and the bottom signifies Sensitization)
A: As the sensitization process has the greatest signal, the stimulus will be sensitized to
2:
A: As habituation has the greatest signal, the stimulus will be habituated to.
3:
A: As both processes have an equal amount of strength, the stimulus will be neither habituated nor sensitized to. 
Non-associative Learning:
Definition: Involves changes in the frequency or amplitude of a behavior/response after repeated exposures to a single stimulus.
Types:
Habituation: A decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated presentations. For example, becoming less responsive to the noise of traffic if you live near a busy road.
Sensitization: An increase in response to a stimulus after repeated presentations. For example, becoming more responsive to a light touch in an area where you previously received a painful stimulus.
Characteristics: Does not involve forming associations between different stimuli or events.