1. Animal Learning

2. Learning
Definition:
A relatively specific and enduring change in a potential behaviour brought about by past experience
-learning verses performance
-experience required
-internal processes

3. Learning Why Study Animal Learning? 1) precise control 2) start simple
3) use potent stimuli
4) model behavioural dysfunctions
5) avoid subjective data
6) interest in its own right

4. Learning Types of Questions? 1) Can it be learned?
2) What conditions encourage/hinder learning?
3) What is the underlying mechanism?

5. Delayed Choice Rats: 10-s Racoon: 25-s Dog: 5-min Choice Human Cue
1-year: 24-s
2-year: 50-s
6-year: 20-min
Choice
Location 1
Location 2
Location 3
Cue
Location 2
Hunter (1913)

6. Animal
# Trials
Total
Errors
3-Visit
Revisit
Percent
Thayer
264
120 54 6
.05
Racoon, Bob
720
209 78 29
.14
Dog, Blackie
570
127 75 25
.20
Rat No. 9
575
144 42 13
.09
Rat No. 2
345
152 69 47
.31

7. Delay of Reinforcement
Grice – (1948)
Choice
Delay
Goal
Start
Reward or No Reward

8. Grice (1948) Results

9. Reasoning Through Insight
Kohler (1914)
Sudden Insight or
Trial and Error?

10. Forms of Learning Evidence 1) Dissociations “H.M.”
“Unconscious Sequence Learning”
2) Simultaneous Contradictory Belief
“Linda Problem”
“Visual Illusions”

11. H.M.
Back

12. Sequence learning * A B C D Back 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 block *
Control Group = random sequence of locations
Back

13. Violated Sequence
Subjects are sensitive to the presence of the sequence even when they deny knowing that there was a sequence
Back

14. 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

15. Müller-Lyer Illusion

16. Forms of Learning: Classification
“Man as machine”
René Descartes
( )

17. Descartes’ Dualism Human versus Animal Involuntary Stimulus Action

18. A Modern Conception Nonassociative Explicit Implicit Conditioning
Semantic
Episodic
Skills
Classical
Instrumental