Introduction to Learning

Chapter 1

A Definition of Learning

Learning is:An experiential processResulting in a relatively permanent changeNot explained by temporary states, maturation, or innate response tendencies.

Three Limits on the Definition

The change that occurs during learning is a potential for behavior that depends on other conditions.Learning is not always a permanent change.

What can be learned can be unlearned.

Changes also occur for other reasons – maturation, motivation.

Roots of Behavior Theory

Functionalism – behavior promotes survival, study behavior to understand its adaptive function.

Dewey – lower animals have reflexes, humans have a flexible mindJames – people have instinctsBrucke – internal biochemical forces motivate behavior in all species.

Criticisms of Functionalism

The variety of behavior across cultures is inconsistent with universal human instincts.Infants seem to have few innate instincts (only fear, rage, love?).Labeling everything an instinct doesn’t aid understanding much.

Bernard cataloged 2000+ instincts

Behaviorism

A search for the laws governing learning.Emphasis on experience.Avoidance of mentalistic concepts.Based on Aristotle’s idea of the association of ideas.

In order for two ideas to become associated, they must be paired together in time (temporally).

British Associationists

Locke – thinking consists of:Simple ideas – passive impressions received by the senses.Complex ideas – the combination (association) of simple ideas (a rose).

Hume – associations are based on:Resemblance (similarity)Contiguity in time or placeCause and effect

Thorndike’s Puzzle Box

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDujDOLre-8

Thorndike’s Puzzle Box

Learning Curve for Cats in Box

Thorndike’s Laws

Also called S-R learning.Law of effect – A chance act becomes a learned behavior when a connection is formed between a stimulus (S) and a response (R) that is rewarded.Law of exercise – the S-R connection is strengthened by use and weakened with disuse.

Thorndike’s Laws (Cont.)

Law of readiness – motivation is needed to develop an association or display changed behavior.Associative shifting – a learned behavior (response) can be shifted from one stimulus to another.

Once a behavior is learned, the stimulus is gradually changed.Fish + “stand up”, then “stand up” alone.

Pavlov’s Studies

Pavlov’s Conditioned Reflex

Conditioning -- a stimulus that initially produces no response can acquire the ability to produce one.Learning occurs through pairing in time and place of one stimulus with another stimulus that produces a response.This is a kind of associative shifting, but the response is involuntary.

Terminology of Conditioning

Unconditioned stimulus (US or UCS)Produces a reflexive response without learning.

Unconditioned response (UR or UCR)

The response that occurs, typically a reflex, involuntary and automatic.

More Terminology

Neutral stimulusA stimulus not capable of producing an unconditioned response.

Conditioned stimulus (CS)A previously neutral stimulus that has acquired the ability to evoke a response.

Conditioned response (CR)The learned response, similar to the UCR, an involuntary reflex.

Two Examples

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOMMy1cmamE&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-S2g8CXUAk&feature=related

Prior to conditioning

Neutral stimulus(tone)

(Orientation to soundbut no response)

UCS(food powder in mouth)

UCR(salivation)

ConditioningNeutral stimulus

CS (tone)

UCS(food powder)

+CR

(salivation)

After conditioningCS

(tone)CR

(salivation)

Conditioning Processes

Stimulus generalization – stimuli like the CS become able to evoke the conditioned response.Extinction – if the UCS and CS are not paired, the CS loses its ability to produce a conditioned response.Spontaneous recovery – an extinguished CS briefly returns but quickly goes away again.

Acquisition, Extinction, and Spontaneous Recovery

Little Albert

Watson & Raynor

Human fears can be acquired through Pavlovian conditioning.

Rat paired with loud noiseStimulus generalized to other white objects (white rabbit, white fur coat)

Mary Cover Jones developed counterconditioning -- a technique for eliminating conditioned fears.

Acquisition of fear-inhibiting response

Ethics of Learning Research

Animals and humans are now protected by oversight and ethical guidelines.Pain or injury to animals must be weighed against and justified by the knowledge to be gained.Electric shock typically is uncomfortable and upsetting but not physically harmful.