Learning

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Learning
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What is learning?

• the process by which experience or practice
  results in a relatively permanent change in
  behavior or potential behavior
• Learning activity

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Classical Conditioning

• A form of learning in which a response elicited
  by one stimulus becomes elicited by a previously
  neutral stimulus

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Classical Conditioning

• Terms
• Unconditioned stimulus (US)
• Unconditioned response (UR)
• Neutral stimulus
• Conditioned stimulus (CS)
• Conditioned response (CR)

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Classical Conditioning

• Temporal contiguity
• Stimulus generalization
• Stimulus discrimination
• Extinction
• Reconditioning
• Spontaneous recovery
• Higher-order conditioning

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• Come up with at least five examples of learned
  (classical conditioning) reaction patterns from
  your lives
• Example cat comes running when s/he hears the
  can opener
• Biological constraints on learning

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• Classical Conditioning
• Events ? outcomes
• Operant Conditioning
• Ones behavior ? outcomes

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Operant Conditioning

• Reinforcer
• ? likelihood
• Punishment
• ? likelihood

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A Closer Look at Reinforcement

• Positive reinforcer
• A pleasant event that follows an operant
  response, increasing the likelihood that the
  response will recur
• Negative reinforcer
• Strengthens a given response by removing an
  aversive stimuli

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Punishment

• Positive (Punisher)/Negative (Response Cost)
• Not the same as negative reinforcement
• To be effective, punishment needs to be
• Swift, sufficient, and certain

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Drawbacks of Punishment

• Punishment cannot unteach unwanted behaviors.
• Punishment can backfire.
• Punishment can teach aggression.

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Shaping

• Reinforcement of successive approximations to end
  goal

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Schedules of Reinforcement

• Continuous Reinforcement Schedule
• Partial Reinforcement Schedule

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Partial Reinforcement Schedules
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Extinction

• Learned responses can weaken and disappear
• In classical conditioning
• Occurs when CS-US pairing lapses
• In operant conditioning
• Occurs when reinforcment is withheld

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Spontaneous Recovery

• Previously extinguished response reappears
  without retraining
• In classical conditioning
• CS predicts US again
• In operant conditioning
• Behavior produces old consequence again

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Stimulus Generalization

• Tendency to respond to cues similar to ones we
  have become conditioned to
• Classical
• Stimuli similar to CS will elicit CR
• Operant
• Supplying different response to stimulus

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Stimulus Discrimination

• Learners can be trained not to generalize, but
  rather to make a conditioned response only to a
  single stimulus.
• Classical
• CR is specific to a certain CS-US pairing
• Operant
• Reinforcing only specific responses

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New Learning Based on Original Learning

• Higher order conditioning
• Conditioning based on previous learning
• Primary reinforcer
• A reinforcer that is rewarding in itself
• Secondary reinforcer
• A reinforcer that acquires its reinforcing power
  through association with a primary reinforcer

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Sensitivity to Rewards/Punishment

• Sensitivity to Punishment
• Score one point for each yes response for all
  odd-numbered items
• Sensitivity to Reward
• Score one point for each yes response for all
  even-numbered items
• Scores range from 0-24
• Higher scores ? greater sensitivity

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Grays Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory

• Behavioral activation system (BAS)
• Behavioral inhibition system (BIS)

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Observational Learning

• We can learn by observing a model, without
  firsthand experience by the observer
• Observational learning
• Social Learning
  Theorists
• Vicarious
  Reinforcement

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Factors Involved in Observational Learning

• Attention
• Retention
• Production Processes
• Motivation

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Latent Learning

• Learning happens even when not demonstrated
• Stored internally
• Tolmans rats

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Cognitive Maps
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Neuroscience and Learning

• Classical and Operant Conditioning ? limbic
  system
• Classical ? hippocampus
• Operant ? amygdala