18 Questions
What is the primary assumption of associative learning theories?
The nervous system consists of nodes and links that form associations
What is the main limitation of the contiguity principle in associative learning?
Contiguity is not sufficient to guarantee learning
What is the phenomenon where a previously established association prevents the formation of a new association?
Blocking effect
What is the term for the process by which a stimulus becomes associated with a particular consequence?
Cue-to-consequence effect
What is the term for the process by which an organism learns to suppress a response to a stimulus?
Inhibitory learning
What is the biological significance of associability in associative learning?
It is essential for survival in a changing environment
What is the primary reason for impaired learning in the Kamin Blocking experiment?
The lack of surprise associated with the US
Which researcher's study demonstrated that biological significance affects associability of stimuli?
Garcia
What is the term for the phenomenon where a stimulus will not associate with a US because it is already associated with another CS?
Blocking effect
According to Rescorla, what is the essential characteristic of a CS for it to acquire the properties of a US?
It must be informative about the occurrence of the US
What is the term for the phenomenon where certain types of causes are more likely to produce certain types of effects?
Cue-to-consequence effect
According to Kamin, what is the essential characteristic of a US for it to be associated with a CS?
It must be surprising
What is the primary concept behind the Law of Effect in operant conditioning?
An association between stimulus and response, which is reinforced by the outcome.
What is a challenge to the S-R theory?
Stimulus-Stimulus associations can occur.
What is the biological significance of associability in learning?
It enables the formation of associations between stimuli and responses.
What is the outcome of sensory preconditioning, as demonstrated by Rizley & Rescorla (1972)?
A stimulus-stimulus association is formed.
What is the primary difference between S-R and S-S learning theories?
S-R involves stimulus-response associations, while S-S involves stimulus-stimulus associations.
What is the main limitation of the S-R theory?
It is an oversimplification of the learning process.
Study Notes
Associative Learning Theory
- Deals with the ability of living organisms to perceive contingency relations between events in their environment
- Accounts for complex phenomena on the basis of a few simple principles
Principles of Associative Learning
- Primary issues to be addressed in the study of learning:
- What are the conditions that bring learning about?
- What is learned?
- How does learning affect behavior?
- Robert A. Rescorla's work on Pavlovian conditioning
Associative Learning Theories
- Central assumption: conceptual nervous system consisting of 'nodes' with links between them
- Links form as a result of conditioning, allowing activity in one node to modify activity in another node
- Associations form between events, such as tone and food, in the conceptual nervous system
Contiguity Principle
- Contiguity between events is not sufficient to establish associations
- Three cases where contiguity is not enough:
- Summation test
- Retardation test
- Kamin blocking (CS1 → US, followed by CS1 + CS2 → US, CS2 test shows impaired learning)
Biological Significance
- Affects the associability of stimuli
- Certain types of causes are more likely to produce certain types of effects: the cue-to-consequence effect
- Garcia & Koelling (1966) 'bright-noisy-water' experiment: rats associated taste, but not light or sound, with illness
Conditions for Learning
- Rescorla: A stimulus will acquire the properties of a CS only if it is informative about the occurrence of the US
- Garcia: Associations between a CS and a US will establish if they are similar or biologically relevant
- Kamin: A stimulus CS will associate only with surprising USs
Contents of Learning
- The three questions to be asked about any learning phenomenon:
- What are the conditions that bring learning about?
- What is learned?
- How does learning affect behavior?
- Associative structures and how to demonstrate them empirically
Operant Conditioning
- The law of effect (Thorndike, 1910): an association between stimulus and response, which is 'stamped in' by the outcome
- The animal learns an association between stimulus and response, but cannot predict the consequences of its behavior
- S-R theory vs. S-S theory: S-R theory appears to be an oversimplified account of learning, while S-S theory suggests that animals learn associations between stimuli
Explore the fundamental principles of associative learning theory, understanding how living organisms perceive contingency relations between events. Learn about the primary issues in studying learning, including the conditions and outcomes of learning.
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