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Learning

DR GANESH INGOLE RESIDENT

PSYCHIATRY

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CONTENTS

• Introduction• Biology of memory• Theories of memory• Forgetting• Disorders of memory• Improving memory• Conclusions

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Learning • Any relatively permanent change in

behavior that occurs as a result of practice or experience. • Important elements 1.Change in behavior 2.Through practice or experience 3.Relatively permanent

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Types of Learning

• Nonassociative Learning 1.Habituation 2.Sensitisation• Associative Learning 1.Classical Conditioning 2.Instrumental Conditioning 3.Complex Learning

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Nonassociative Learning

• Habituation- decreased behavioral response to innocuous stimulus

• Sensitization- Increased behavioral response to an intense stimuli

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• Unconditioned Response- Unlearned Response

• Unconditioned Stimulus- Stimulus automatically elicits response without prior conditioning

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Classical Conditioning

• Previously neutral stimulus becomes associated with another stimulus through repeated pairing

• Pavlovian Experiment• Sight of food causes salivation in dog

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Instrumental Coditioning

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Instrumental/Operant Conditioning

• Learners' behavior is important• Change is Reward• Response is repeated

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Theories of Classical Conditioning

• Stimulus substitution:-• CS substitutes US• Bond formation between CS and US• Reflex response• CR should be same as UR• Freezing

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Properties of Learning

• Acquisition:-Strength of association between CS & US increases after repeated pairing

• Extinction:-CS presented alone• Strength of CR decreases• Inhibition –CS ceases to be signal for US• CS becomes neutral stimuli

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Spontaneous Recovery

• Increased response after rest• Learning is rememberd• Reconditioning is fast

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• Stimulus Generalization:- Similar response to different stimuli

• Greater response with similar stimuli• Unpaired stimuli• Discrimination:-Different response to

different stimuli

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Theories of Classical Conditioning Cont…

• Information And Expectation:-• CS Signals US• Recent memory for CS• Link forms between CS and US• Expectation of future event

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Reinforcer

• An envirnomental event that is the consequence of an instrumental response and that makes the response more likely again

• Positive Reinforcer- Increased likelihood of response

• Omission of reinforcer –Positive renforcer is withdrawan

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• Negative Reinforcer- Cessation of event increased likelihood of response

• Punishers:-Event decreases likelihood of response

Responses tend not to be repeated

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Positive Reinforcement(Increased likelihood of response)

Punishment(Decreased Likelihood Of Response)

Omission of Reinforcement(Decreased Likelihood Of Response)

Negative Reinforcement(Increased likelihood of response)

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Shaping Behavior

• To speed up operant conditioning• To condition complex response• Method of Successive Approximations• Auto shaping

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Conditioned Positive Reinforcers

Primary Reinforcers Secondary Reinforcers

1. No previous special training required

Previous special training required

2. Work Naturally Does not work naturally

3. No extinction Extinction

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Schedule of Positive Reinforcement

• Continuous • Fixed Ratio• Fixed interval• Varied interval

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Escape Learning

• Noxious stimuli are avoided• Instrumental learning based on negative

reinforcement

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Avoidance learning

• Noxious stimulus is avoided before its occurrence

• Latency of response early• Safety signals• Extinction is slow• Species typical defense mechanism

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Punishment

• Intensity• Consistency• Closure to time & place of response• Adaptation• Simultaneous use of Positive

Reinforcement• Should be used sparingly• May lead to US for fear

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Latent Learning

• Learning not evident until favorable conditions

• Occurs without reinforcement

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Programmed Learning

• Used in Psychological therapy• Small easy steps• Reinforcement on completion of each step• Response at own pace • Useful in learning facts, rules and formulas

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Insight Learning

• Sudden solution to a problem• Perceptual reorganization• Generalization of a solution

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Imitation

• Imitation of behavior • Species typical• Learner pays attention to models behavior• Remember• Able to reproduce behavior• Motivated to do so

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Cognitive Learning

• Past experiences changes memory of events

• New pairing between stimuli and response• Stored in memory

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Prepared Behavior

• Certain species predisposed to learn some things easily

• Language learning in earlier stages• Species typical defense mechanism• Phobias – Certain phobias more common

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• Unprepared Behavior:- Learned with moderate difficulty• Contra prepared Behavior:- Learned with great difficulty

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Personalized system of instructions

• Broken into steps• Each step is to be mastered before

moving into next step• Performance at own pace• Increase in prductivity

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Behavior Therapy

• To treat psychological disorders• Reinforce socially adaptive behavior• Extinguishing maladaptive behavior• Pairing of stimuli

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Learning & Brain

• Hebbian Learning rule- repetition of same responses lead to permanent changes at the synopses

• Increased neurotransmitters• New neuron formation• Site - Cortex

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References• Clifford T. Morgan, Richard A. King, John R Weisz, John

Schopler,1993,Emotion and stress, Introduction To Psychology, 7th edition,181-223

• Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, Barbara L. Fredrickson,Geoff Loftus, Introduction To Psychology,15th ed,228-269

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THANK YOU