Psychology Chapter 1: Learning and Memory Basics

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Questions and Answers

What defines learning in psychological terms?

An involuntary reaction to stimuli.

A temporary change in behavior due to external factors.

A static state of knowledge acquisition.

A long-lasting change in behavior resulting from experience. (correct)

Which brain region is primarily associated with memory consolidation?

Frontal Lobe

Cerebellum

Hippocampus (correct)

Amygdala

In classical conditioning, what is a conditioned stimulus (CS)?

A neutral stimulus that becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus. (correct)

A reflexive response to an unconditioned stimulus.

A stimulus that naturally triggers a response.

An automatic reaction to a conditioned stimulus.

What does the Rescorla-Wagner model explain?

How associations form between conditioned and unconditioned stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What principle does the Law of Effect primarily emphasize?

Responses followed by favorable outcomes are more likely to recur. Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the phenomenon where an organism learns to respond differently to similar stimuli?

Discrimination Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of neurons in learning and memory?

Synaptic connections between neurons are critical for learning. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'blocking' refer to in classical conditioning?

The overshadowing of one stimulus by another, preventing association formation. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Conditioned Stimulus' (CS) refer to?

A previously neutral stimulus that triggers a response after pairing. Signup and view all the answers

During which phase does the Conditioned Response (CR) become stronger through the pairing of the CS and US?

Acquisition Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during the process of extinction?

The CS is presented alone, leading to a decline in the CR. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes 'generalization' in classical conditioning?

It is when a CR is triggered by stimuli that are similar to the original CS. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the Little Albert experiment, what was demonstrated?

Fear of white rats generalized to other furry objects. Signup and view all the answers

According to the Rescorla-Wagner theory, what influences the change in associative strength?

The unexpectedness of the US. Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates Stimulus-Response (S-R) associations from Stimulus-Stimulus (S-S) associations?

S-R involves response learning, while S-S involves CS predicting US. Signup and view all the answers

In sensory preconditioning, how are the two stimuli related?

They are associated before any US is introduced. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Learning and Memory Basics

Learning involves lasting changes in behavior driven by experience.
Memory acts as a recording system for experiences that facilitate learning.
Key terms include Unconditioned Response (UR), Conditioned Response (CR), Unconditioned Stimulus (US), and Conditioned Stimulus (CS).

Important Figures

Ebbinghaus researched the forgetting curve and conducted practice experiments.
Pavlov is known for pioneering classical conditioning concepts using US, UR, CS, and CR.
Thorndike formulated the Law of Effect and Instrumental Conditioning.

Theoretical Approaches

Behaviorism emphasizes observable behavior changes through reinforcement, as seen in works by Pavlov and Skinner.
Cognitive Psychology studies the impact of mental processes, including memory, on behavior, characterized by Tolman's cognitive maps.

Classical Conditioning

Generalization occurs when organisms react similarly to stimuli akin to the CS; discrimination allows distinct responses.
Blocking refers to a more potent stimulus overshadowing another, hindering new associations.

Classical Conditioning Paradigms

Rescorla-Wagner Model explains association formation between CS and US, which adjusts based on trial outcomes.
Second-Order Conditioning enables pairing a new stimulus with an established CS to elicit a CR.
Sensory Preconditioning involves prior pairing of two neutral stimuli resulting in a conditioned response later.

Neural Basis of Learning and Memory

The cerebellum plays a vital role in motor control and learning.
The hippocampus is essential for memory consolidation.
Synaptic connections among neurons are crucial for learning processes.

Classical Conditioning in Simple Organisms

Studies with sea slugs have demonstrated synaptic changes associated with learning.

Classical Conditioning Basics

Classical conditioning occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes linked to a response through repeated pairing with a US.
Unconditioned Stimulus (US) naturally elicits a response, while a Conditioned Stimulus (CS) becomes associated with the response after conditioning.
The resulting Conditioned Response (CR) follows exposure to the CS.

Processes of Classical Conditioning

Acquisition marks the phase of pairing CS with US, strengthening the CR.
Extinction happens when the CS is presented without the US, causing a reduction in CR.
Generalization results in similar stimuli eliciting the CR.
Discrimination allows for recognition of differences among stimuli to respond to only the CS.

Key Experiments

Eye-blink conditioning illustrated this process, using an air puff (US) to evoke a blink (UR/CR) connected to a tone or light (CS).
The Little Albert experiment showcased generalization, where a child developed fear towards a white rat (CS) and related furry objects.

Sensitization and Habituation

Sensitization involves an increase in response to a stimulus after repeated exposure.
Habituation denotes a decrease in response to a stimulus over time.

Neural Basis of Classical Conditioning

Research on the sea slug Aplysia explores synaptic connections changing during learning.
Facilitating interneurons release neurotransmitters, enhancing responses during conditioning.

Rescorla-Wagner Theory

Suggests learning is influenced by the unexpectedness of the US.
Formula ΔV = α(λ - V) describes the change in associative strength (ΔV) based on the learning rate (α) and the difference between maximum association (λ) and current strength (V).
Blocking effect prevents formation of new associations if an established CS is a better predictor for the US.

S-R vs. S-S Associations

S-R (Stimulus-Response) describes the direct elicitation of UR by CS.
S-S (Stimulus-Stimulus) indicates that CR arises from the anticipation of US predicted by CS.

Key Paradigms

Sensory Preconditioning pairs two stimuli before one links to a US, leading to a response with subsequent presentations of either.
Second-Order Conditioning introduces a new stimulus associated with the CS, also prompting the CR.

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Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of learning and memory in psychology through key terms and influential figures. This quiz covers important aspects such as conditioned responses and the contributions of Ebbinghaus and Pavlov. Test your understanding of these essential principles now!