Psychology Chapter: Habituation and Sensitization

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Questions and Answers

What is the definition of habituation?

A decrease in the strength or occurrence of a behavior after repeated exposure to a stimulus (correct)

An increase in the strength of a behavior after repeated exposure to a stimulus

The complex process of memory retrieval following extensive learning

The ability to learn from novel stimuli only

What is the primary function of diffusion tensor imaging in research?

Assessing blood flow in the brain

Mapping changes in cognitive function over time

Evaluating emotional responses to stimuli

Mapping the structural connections between different regions of the brain (correct)

Which principle of habituation describes the occurrence of a response to a previously habituated stimulus after a period of no stimulus?

Spontaneous recovery (correct)

Long term habituation

Stimulus specificity

Dishabituation

Which statement accurately describes sensitization?

It involves a global increase in responsiveness to all stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does stimulus intensity have on the process of habituation?

Habituation is slower and less likely with more intense stimuli Signup and view all the answers

Which pathway represents habituation according to dual process theory?

Primary reflex pathway Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes dishabituation?

Renewal of a response when a novel stimulus is presented Signup and view all the answers

What is the physiological response observed in Aplysia when the siphon is touched?

Gill withdrawal reflex Signup and view all the answers

What does the orienting response typically indicate?

An innate reaction to a novel stimulus or environmental change Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the high threshold state system in dual process theory?

It produces a reflex response to noxious stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

How does habituation help organisms in their environment?

It enables them to identify novel events and discriminate between stimuli Signup and view all the answers

Which feature does habituation exhibit with weak stimuli?

Specific decline in responsiveness Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of long-term habituation?

To accumulate habituation effects across repeated exposures to a stimulus Signup and view all the answers

Why is Aplysia californica commonly used in studies of learning and memory?

Its large neurons facilitate direct observation of neural mechanisms. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about stimulus specificity is correct?

Habituation to one stimulus does not affect responses to other stimuli in the same modality Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the response when a similar stimulus is presented after habituation?

The response weakens relative to the first exposure. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of habituation?

Decrease in response to repeated exposure to benign stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon occurs when an innocuous stimulus leads to a decrease in response, while a noxious stimulus increases responsiveness to various stimuli?

Sensitization Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a common principle of habituation?

Increase in response specificity Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about sensitization is true?

It can occur after exposure to a single noxious stimulus Signup and view all the answers

How does the spacing of stimulus presentations affect habituation?

Spaced presentations create better long-term habituation Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential drawback of habituation in certain situations?

Ignoring important warnings like a low smoke detector battery Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates sensitization from habituation?

Sensitization is not stimulus specific while habituation is Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during dis-habituation?

An increase in responses due to a novel or strong stimulus Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Habituation and Sensitization

Learning from repeated exposure to stimuli involves predicting which stimuli are important and prioritizing responses.
Habituation is a decrease in a behavior's strength or occurrence after repeated exposure.
It involves reducing automatic responses to certain stimuli, such as startle response or orienting response.
Spontaneous recovery is an increase in a stimulus-evoked response after weakening it via habituation.
Stimulus specificity refers to habituation to one stimulus not causing habituation to others.
Dishabituation is the renewal of a previously habituated response when a novel stimulus is introduced.

Principles of Habituation

Habituation is more likely to occur with weak stimuli.
Stimulus specificity is how one stimuli habituates does not affect others.
Short and long term habituation is present.

Habituation and Sensitization in Aplysia

Habituation is stimulus-specific, weakening the response to familiar stimuli.
Sensitization occurs when strong or noxious stimuli cause an increase in response to other stimuli.
Aplysia (sea hare) has a simple nervous system, making it a good model organism for studying these processes.

Habituation Summary

A decrease in the strength or occurrence of a behavior after exposure to a stimulus.
The stimulus is usually benign or uninteresting.

Sensitization Summary

An increase in the strength of response to other stimuli after strong or noxious stimulus.
The effect often decreases over time.
Not specific, and can effect the response to a much broader range of stimuli.

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Description

Explore the concepts of habituation and sensitization in this quiz. Learn about how repeated exposure to stimuli affects behavioral responses, including spontaneous recovery and stimulus specificity. Delve into these principles through the study of Aplysia to understand the underlying mechanisms of learning.