Simple learning
- Habituation
- repeated stimulation → ↓ response
- Sensitization
- repeated stimulation → ↑ response
Classical conditioning
- Reflexive response normally elicited by an unconditioned stimulus becomes evocable by a second, conditioned stimulus
- Pavlov’s dogs are the typical example of classical conditioning
- ringing a bell provoked salivation
- natural response = salivation
- conditioned stimulus = bell
- unconditioned stimulus = food
- ringing a bell provoked salivation
- Extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus is no longer associated with the unconditioned stimulus.
- over time the response will no longer be elicited
Operant conditioning
- Type of learning in which reward elicits action
- Positive reinforcement
- desired reward produces action
- e.g. mouse presses button to get food
- Negative reinforcement
- removal of aversive stimulus elicits behavior
- e.g. mouse presses button to avoid shock
- Punishment
- aversive stimulus prevents unwanted behavior
- Extinction
- discontinuation of reinforcement eliminates behavior
Reinforcement schedules
- Pattern of reinforcement determines how quickly a behavior is learned or extinguished
- Continuous
- reward received after every response
- rapidly extinguished
- think “vending machine”
- Variable ratio
- reward received after random number of responses
- slowly extinguished
- think “slot machine”