Flashcards
1&2
Cards in this deck (29)
- 1What are the 3 key principles of learning?1. memory gets better with more learning
2. the law of diminishing returns
3. the learning curve - 2What does the Rescorla-Wagner equation mean?The amount learned is proportional to the magnitude of the prediction error
- 3What are the two basic points of a simple learning situation1. before learning we have no knowledge/memory of a particular association, so the initial presentation is surprising.
2. when memory is well learned, we can fully predict the outcome, so it is not surprising at all. - 4What does a learning curve of memory show?1. initially lots of learning that greatly increases the memory strength
2. as memory reaches it's maximum level, there is less room for improvement, so gains are reduced
3. obeys the laws of diminishing returns - 5In the Rescorla-Wagner rule, what term denotes the level of surprise?'Prediction error'
- 6How is prediction error linked to learning?If learning is complete, the degree to which we can predict the future occurrence of the outcome based on the next stimulus is limited, which leads to an error in the prediction of the outcome. Learning only takes place when there is a prediction error.
- 7Blocking (Kamin, 1969) is evidence for prediction error. Explain how.Stimulus X is associated with an outcome. X is presented with Y; the XY combo is also associated with the outcome. X blocks learning about Y. Outcome is fully predicted by X; no prediction error = no learning.
- 8Describe the method Schultz et al used for their study on dopamine neurons in the midbrain and prediction error signalling.Monkeys trained on a Pavlovian conditioning task; stimulus predicted juice drop reward and electrophysiological recordings were taken from dopaminergic cells in substantia nigra and ventral tergmental area. Cells had a low but consistent rate of firing with no stimulus input.
- 9What were the results of Schultz et al's monkey study?Initially neurons responded to the reward - not predicted so high error signal. When association learned, neurons respond to the CS but not reward - predicted so low error signal. When reward predicted not not omitted, suppression of baseline activity - negative error signal
- 10What are the limitations of the Rescorla-Wagner rule?1. correlational; error signals happen, but might not be necessary for learning to take place.
2. rule states magnitude of prediction error determines extent of learning - no evidence for intensity - 11What did Bern et al (2001) find when repeating Schultz et al's study on humans?Using an fMRI found greater activity in nucleus accumbens when juice delivery was unexpected. Consistent with the expect activity of an error prediction signal, as the NA is a major target for dopaminergic cells in the midbrain.
- 12As well as signals in the NA, where else emits error prediction signals? (Takahashi et al 2009, Tremblay and Schultz 2000)Found evidence of error predictions in the orbitofrontal cortex in monkeys and rats.
- 13Suggest why there might be more than one brain area producing error prediction signals.Because different brain areas might mediate separate memory types. Although, they seem to work together to regulate learning as a result of surprise.
- 14What are the three stages of visual memory?1. Iconic memory - duration of less than a second
2. visual STM - duration of a few seconds to a few hours
3. visual LTM - duration possibly lasts infinitely - 15How did Sperling (1960) provide evidence for ICONIC memory?Participants were shown 12 letters for ~50ms and asked to recall them. On average, 4-5/12 were reported, but in a partial report, 3/4 were reported, suggesting that at least 9 were held in iconic memory initially
- 16What biological mechanism is assumed in STM?Sustained neural activity. e.g. Miller and Desimone (1994) found, in Monkeys, activity of neurons in the visual association IT that were sensitive to a particular complex visual stimulus outlasted the presentation of said stimulus
- 17From Miller and Desimone's 1994 study, what assumptions can we make?As IT activity is sustained for some time after the visual stimulus disappears, it provides a neural substrate for a short-term visual memory which lasts several seconds.
- 18What brain areas are responsible for visual STM?The ventral visual pathway, which includes;
1. occipital lobe
2. ventral visual stream
3. temporal lobe - 19How an we test for LTM?Look for differences in brain activity responding between initial presentation and test. we might observe repetition suppression, where the stimulus is no longer novel, or an increase in responding, particularly if the stimulus is deemed important
- 20What do brain lesion studies tell us about LTM?Those with lesions to the temporal lobe suffer amnesia, with particular damage to the perirhinal and parahippocampus; suggests LT visual memory recruits an area further up the visual pathway than STM or iconic memory
- 21What is associative learning?Forms of learning that involve the formation of predictive links between even, which can be broken down into stimuli (Pavlovian conditioning) and responses (instrumental conditioning)
- 22What is Pavlovian conditioning? (classical conditioning if u don't want to sound like a dick..)A previously insignificant stimulus is paired with US and becoming CS. Presentation of CS triggers retrieval of CS-US; the delivery of US is predicted, resulting in a anticipatory response.
- 23What is fear conditioning?The formation of an association between a previously-meaningless stimulus and an aversive outcome
- 24Which area of the brain is implemented in fear conditioning?The amygdala.
- 25Evidence for the role of the amygdala in fear conditioning?Urbach-Wiethe disease; genetic disorder which includes selective accumulation of calcium deposits in the amygdala, leading to neuronal cell death. A patient with this disease has impairments in Pavlovian fear conditioning.
- 26Issues with human patient studies in memory?Often suffer from lack of temporal resolution, making it difficult to isolate specific phases of memory. Focus tends to be on acquisition/immediate retention of memory. Apparently normal learning/memory following damage to a certain region doesn't mean it's necessarily not normally involved.
- 27In animals, how can lesions be induced in the brain?1. Aspiration; sucking out a part of the brain
2. Electrolytic lesions; electrical current-induced damage
3. Excitotoxic lesions; using chemical to over stimulate neurons to death. - 28How is STM converted into LTM?Memory consolidation, or cellular consolidation.
- 29What compound stops the process of protein synthesis in mutlicellular organisms, and what is the effect of this on memory?Anisomycin; intra-amygdala infusion of anisomycin before or soon after Pavlovian conditioning selectively disrupts LTM but leaves STM intact.
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- Psychology (Psychobio - memory and emotion) Flashcards on 1&2, created by Craig Wilkinson on 28/02/2017.
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