Psy 342 Learning & Memory
Study Guide for Exam 1
Purdy et al. Chapters 1-3
Chapter 1
Describe how the early study of learning was influenced by philosophers.
Explain the biological theory of evolution. How did this theory influence the study of learning?
**State the scientific definition of learning. Explain the significance of each of the 4 components of the definition.
Define habituation and sensitization. Describe two examples of each. Why are they considered “simpler” forms of learning?
Explain why learning and memory are usually studied separately, even though they are related.
Why do we say that we must very often “infer” learning and memory?
Chapter 2
Describe Pavlov's original classical conditioning procedure.
How was Pavlov's thinking about classical conditioning influenced by the associationist perspective?
Be able to define and give examples of the basic components of the classical conditioning situation (i.e., unconditioned stimulus, unconditioned response, conditioned stimulus, conditioned response).
**Describe the following conditioning paradigms, being sure to specify a common US, CS, UR, and CR for each paradigm: eyeblink conditioning and galvanic skin response conditioning with humans, nictitating membrane paradigm with rabbits, conditioned emotional response paradigm with rats, and conditioned taste aversion with rats. Remember to include a description of how conditioning is measured in each paradigm.
**Define and comment on the relative effectiveness of the 4 common CS-US arrangements used in classical conditioning experiments (i.e., forward delayed, forward trace, simultaneous, and backward).
**Explain the general relationship between CS-US interval and effectiveness of conditioning. What paradigm or learning situation contradicts this general rule?
What does a +1.0 correlation mean in the context of classical conditioning? How about a 0 correlation? What is the general relationship between US-CS correlation and effectiveness of conditioning?
**What information is displayed in a learning curve (acquisition curve)? Draw and describe in words what a typical learning curve looks like.
Describe Kamin's 1965 experiment which studied how changes in the intensity and salience of the US and CS affect conditioning. Explain the results.
**Describe how Garcia and Koelling (1966) demonstrated that certain combinations of CSs and USs promote effective conditioning while others do not.
What is blocking? How can blocking be demonstrated in the lab?
**Summarize the method, results, and implications of the Watson & Rayner (1920) study with Little Albert.
Chapter 3
Summarize the basic assumptions, predictions, and evidence for and against the following 3 theories: (1) contiguity theory, (2) contingency theory, and (3) the Rescorla-Wagner theory.
Theorists have disagreed about what sort of relationship the organism learns in a conditioning situation. There have been two primary points of view. Describe these points of view. Which has accrued the most support?