Flashcards
Learning & Memory
Cards in this deck (44)
- 1Define LearningA relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs as a result of experience. It can either be intentional or unintentional and there can be few behaviours that cannot be learned. (reflex actions or maturation)
- 2Define MemoryAn active information processing system that encodes, stores and recovers information.
- 3What is synaptogenesisThe formation of a synapse between neurons.
- 4Explain the role of neurotransmitters during learning?Transmit chemical messages across the synaptic gap between neurons.
- 5What is long term potentiation?An increase in synaptic strength through high frequency stimulation of the synaptic pathway.
- 6What is long term depression?Can last for hours or longer and is the reduction in efficiency in synaptic connections. Allows the strengthening to continue in neural connections aid in encoding information.
- 7How does the brain modify its neural pathways?By changing the strength of the synaptic connections between neurons.
- 8Explain Glutamate- Main excitatory neurotransmitter.
- role in cognition, memory and learning.
- can bind neurons together through synaptic plasticity involved in long term potentiation. - 9Explain Adrenalin- Can enhance long term memory.
- important for encoding emotional memories.
- ensures memory strength relates to memory importance. - 10Explain synaptic plasticity and glutamate.LTP and LTD are important forms of synaptic plasticity that occur and synapses within several brain regions. Given glutamates excitatory effect, it has a vital role in LTP and LTD. The more often that glutamate can excite an adjacent neuron, the more it contributes to LTP. (vise versa for LTD)
- 11What is consolidation?A biological process of making a newly formed memory stable and enduring after learning. Time is required after learning takes place to enable the new information is set as a durable long term memory. e.g: when you write your name in concrete and once it sets it is permanent, but while it is setting it can be interfered with or erased.
- 12What is the role of adrenalin in consolidation?Adrenalin can enhance the consolidation of long term memories of emotionally arousing experiences. This means these types of events are more likely to be remembered.
- 13What is classical conditioning?a simple form of learning which occurs through repeated association of two different stimuli to produce a naturally occurring response. (3 phases)
- 14Give an example of classical conditioningFirst, when food was seen by a dog, the dog would salivate. (naturally occurring response)
A bell was rung and produced no response. This is unconditioned.
Both stimuli were paired through repeated association.
After conditioning, the bell would ring without food and cause the dog to salivate. This is now a conditioned stimulus. - 15Explain what happens with the dog and bell example for classical conditioning.Before: BELL(NS) = No response
During: BELL(NS) + FOOD(UCS) = Salivate at food (UCR)
After: BELL(CS) = Salivate at bell (CR) - 16What is stimulus discrimination?When an individual only elicts the conditioned response to the original stimulus - not to other stimuli that are similar to the other conditioned stimulus.
- 17What is stimulus generalisation?The tendency for a similar stimulus to the original conditioned stimulus to produce a response that is similar (but not identical) to the conditioned response.
- 18What is Operant Conditioning?A learning process in which the likelihood of a particular behaviour occurring is determined by the consequences of that behaviour. It is a response (or set of responses) that occurs and acts (operants) on the environment to produce some kind of effect.
- 19What is the ABC model in reference to operant conditioning. Give Examples:Antecedent (phone rings) - Behaviour(you pick it up, desired or undesired) - Consequence (bad news, positive negative punishment or response cost)
- 20Describe reinforcementWhen desirable behaviour is encouraged with the view to strengthening it.
- Give something desirable - pleasant.
- Take away something undesirable - aversive. - 21Describe PunishmentWhen undesirable behaviour is discouraged with a view to weaken it.
- give something undesirable - aversive
- take away something desirable - pleasant - 22What is continuous reinforcement?When reinforcement is given after every correct response. Essential in the acquisition stage but not effective for maintaining maximal response rate.
- 23What is partial reinforcement?Only giving reinforcement after some responses, but not all. Used after acquisition stage and responses tend to be stronger and less easily extinguished.
- 24What is order of presentation in effectiveness of reinforcement?states that a reinforcement or punishment should always occur after a desired response (consistent)
- 25Explain timing in effectiveness of reinforcementstates that the punishment or reinforcement are most effective when given immediately after the response has occurred.
- 26Explain appropriateness in terms of effectiveness of reinforcementYou need to take into account personal characteristics of the individual and individual situation when deciding whether stimulus will act as reinforcer or punisher.
- 27Explain stimulus generalisation in operant conditioningoccurs when the correct response is made to another stimulus that is similar to the stimulus that was present when the original behaviour was reinforced. (e.g works hard in school, stops swearing at home)
- 28Explain stimulus discrimination in operant conditioningWhen an organism makes the correct response to a stimulus, and is reinforced, but does not respond to any other stimulus, even when stimuli are similar. (e.g good behaviour for mum but not for dad.)
- 29Describe acquisition, extinction and spontaneous recovery in operant conditioning.Acquisition: establishment of response through reinforcement
Extinction: Gradual decrease in strength of a learned response
Spontaneous recovery: Can occur after apparent extinction and involves the organism once again showing the response. - 30What is the difference between classical and operant conditioning?Classical is passive, involuntary and the stimulus is presented BEFORE the response. Operant is active, voluntary and the stimulus is presented AFTER the response.
- 31What is observational learning?acquiring new behaviours without having to personally experience them. This occurs when someone uses observation of a models actions and the consequences of those actions to guide their future actions.
- 32What is the social learning theory?Emphasises the importance of the environment, or social context in which learning occurs.
- 33What is vicarious conditioning in observational learning?where the individual watches a models behaviour being reinforced or punished, then behaves in the exact same way, in a modified way, or refrains for the behaviour as a result of what they have observed.
- 34What is vicarious reinforcement in observational learning?it increases the likelihood of an observer behaving in a similar way to the models whose behaviour is being reinforced.
- 35What is vicarious punishment in observational learning?Occurs when the likelihood of an observer performing a particular behaviour decreases after having seen A models behaviour being punished.
- 36Explain the process, attention in observational learningwe are more likely to imitate a model if they are:
- perceived positively
- have similarities with us
- higher status/power
- stand out - 37Explain the process, Retention in observational learningHaving to remember the models behaviour.
- 38Explain the process Reproduction in observational learningAttempting to reproduce or imitate what has been observed.
- 39Explain the process, Motivation in observational learningMust be motivated to perform the behaviour
- 40Explain the process, Reinforcement in observational learningInfluences the motivation to reproduce the observed behaviour and increases the likelihood of reproduction.
- 41Explain external reinforcement, vicarious and self reinforcement.External: Learning by consequences
Vicarious: Occurs indirectly
Self: Meeting certain standards we set for ourselves. - 42Explain what happened in the Little Albert ExperimentBefore: rat (ns) = no response
During: rat (ns) + loud noise (ucs) = fear at noise (ucr)
After: rat (cs) = cry fear at rat (cr) - 43Explain the little albert experiment- Enormous stimulus generalisation
- emotional reaction said to occur when autonomic NS produces a response to a stimulus that did not previously trigger that response. - 44What were the ethical considerations in the Little Albert experiment?NO - voluntary participation
NO - informed consent
NO - withdrawal rights
NO - confidentiality
NO - debriefing
YES - psychological & physiological harm
Information
- Description
- Flashcards on Learning & Memory, created by Emily Prestigiacomo on 18/04/2017.
- Created by
- Emily Prestigiacomo
- Views
- 0
- Rating