Animal Learning

Learning

Definition:

A relatively specific and enduring change in a potential behaviour brought about by past experience

-learning verses performance-experience required-internal processes

Learning

Why Study Animal Learning?

1) precise control2) start simple3) use potent stimuli 4) model behavioural dysfunctions5) avoid subjective data6) interest in its own right

Learning

Types of Questions?

1) Can it be learned?2) What conditions encourage/hinder learning?3) What is the underlying mechanism?

Delayed Choice

Rats: 10-sRacoon: 25-sDog: 5-minHuman

1-year: 24-s2-year: 50-s6-year: 20-min

Hunter (1913)

ChoiceLocation 1Location 2Location 3

Cue

Location 2

Delay of Reinforcement

StartDelayChoice Goal

Reward or No Reward

Grice – (1948)

Grice (1948) Results

2030405060708090

100

25 100

175

250

325

400

475

550

625

700

Trials

Per

cen

t C

orr

ect

0s

5s

2s1.2s

0.5s

10s

Reasoning Through Insight

Kohler (1914)

Sudden Insightor

Trial and Error?

Forms of Learning

Evidence

1) Dissociations“H.M.”“Unconscious Sequence Learning”

2) Simultaneous Contradictory Belief“Linda Problem”“Visual Illusions”

H.M.

Back

Sequence learning

Nissen & Bullemer (1987) –

Serial Reaction Time

*

A B C D Experimental Group = fixed sequence of locations

D – B – C – A – C – B – D – C – B – A -

circular sequence, 10 times per blockControl Group = random sequence of locations

Back

Violated Sequence

Subjects are sensitive to the presence of the sequence even when they deny knowing that there was a sequence

Back

Linda Problem

Linda is 31 years old, single, outspoken, and very bright. She majored in philosophy. As a student, she was deeply concerned with issues of discrimination and social justice, and also participated in anti-nuclear demonstrations.

Which of the following is more probable?

(1) Linda is a bank teller. (2) Linda is a bank teller and is active in the feminist

movement.

Back

Müller-Lyer Illusion

Forms of Learning: Classification

René Descartes(1594-1660)

“Man as machine”

StimulusInvoluntary

VoluntaryAction

Human versus Animal

Descartes’ Dualism

A Modern Conception

Conditioning

Implicit

Classical InstrumentalSkills

Explicit

Semantic Episodic

Nonassociative