Learning & Memory

Learning & Memory

1. Learning is a persistent adaptation an organism makes to events in its environment by altering its behaviour. 1. Not just one type 2. Relates to different kinds of experience e.g., visual, auditory, language, emotion, motor control 3. Intimately linked with memory 4. Occurs readily in relation to biologically relevant events/situations 5. May be gradual or progressive 6. May be consciously or not 7. Implies a change in brain activity and/or structure

2. Type of Learning

   • Observational learning
   • Non-associative learning in relation to a single event e.g., habituation
   • Associative learning related to the connections between and prediction of events
     • 1. association between events i.e., operant conditioning
     • association between event and bodily response i.e., classical conditioning

3. Role of attention

   • Usually requires attention. Focal or selective attention. .Attention can be controlled in top-down or bottom up fashion
     • Non-consciously attended stimuli may be processed
       • Patients with hemispheric neglect typically ignore visual stimuli presented to right hemisphere