Learning Mechanisms: A Tutorial Study Guide

Nicoladie Tam

• Publisher: Nicoladie Tam, Ph.D.
• ISBN:
  9781301729531
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Cognitive Neuroscience & Neuropsychology
• Index: Psychology

“Learning Mechanisms” is a part of the college-level Neuropsychopharmacology course series textbooks. It is a tutorial written in questions and answers format to describe the psychology of learning and the neurobiological basis of learning, and the neural mechanisms behind learning.

It is a study guide with in-depth explanations. Each section is a modular unit that is self-contained for easy reading. The principles and concepts are introduced systematically so students can learn and retain the materials intuitively.

1.Learning Mechanisms

Objectives

• Understand the different biological mechanisms for learning
• Understand the relationship between learning and memory

Concepts to Learn

• Adaptation
• Associative learning
• Classical conditioning
• Operant conditioning
• Extinction
• Reinforcment learning
• Positive reinforcement
• Negative reinforcement
• Imitation learning
• Associative memory

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1.1.Adaptation

Objectives

• Understand the mechanism for producing adaptation

Concepts to Learn

• Adaptation of response to stimulus
• Sensitization
• Habituation and desensitization

Adaptation is the change of response to the same stimulus that is repeated over time. The condition is repetition of the stimulus, and the response is a change in the response size. If the response increases, it is called sensitization. If the response is decreased, it is called habituation or desensitization. Adaptation only requires one stimulus whereas conditioning requires two stimuli to produce. Adaptation is the most basic form of learning that is universal to most animals.

Summary

Adaptation is the simplest form of learning that changes the response size in response to the repetitive stimulation. The response size can increase (sensitize) or decrease (habituate or desensitize) as a result of repeating the stimulus over time.

Q&A

What is adaptation?

Adaptation is a change of response due to repeated stimulation.

In adaptation, there is only one stimulus. The stimulus is repeated many times. With repeated exposure to the stimulus, the response of the animal changes.

In contrast to conditioning or associative learning, it requires two stimuli, whereas adaptation requires only one stimulus.

What is the difference between adaptation and conditioning?

Adaptation requires only one stimulus whereas conditioning requires two stimuli.

Adaptation is the most fundamental form of learning because it only requires repetitive stimulation to establish the adaptation. It is the mere repetition of the stimulus within a short period of time that produces the adaptation.

What is the necessarily condition for adaptation to occur?

The condition is repetitive stimulus over time.

When a stimulus is repeated over and over again, it provides the condition in which adaptation can occurs. Without adaptation, even if the stimulus is repeated many times, the response would be exactly the same. But with adaptation, the response is usually reduced.

What form of learning is the most basic and simplest in evolution?

Adaptation is the most fundamental and simplest form of learning in evolution.

Even though adaptation does not establish any association with any new stimulus, the response does change according to the stimulus of the environment. The change in response provides the animal with the advantage of conserving energy by reducing the response if the same stimulus is repeated over time. The reduction in response may or may not be appropriate as far as the context of the environment is concerned because it is not associating with other stimuli. Nonetheless, it does serve some useful function and provides a convenient strategy to cope by effectively conserve energy.

For instance, gill-withdrawal reflex in the sea slug (Aplasia) can be reduced by repetitive stimulation of the gill, resulting from reducing the gill-withdrawal after awhile. It is because if the stimulus is harmless, it conserves energy not to withdraw the gills. This happens in the natural environment when the sea waves splash into the gills, causing the gill-withdrawal reflex. However, such stimulus is harmless, and withdrawal of the gills does not necessarily protect the animal. On the other hand, if a predator is touching the gills suddenly, then withdrawal would server a useful purpose in protecting the animal.

Why do psychologists not consider adaptation as learning whereas physiologists consider it as basic learning?

It is because the response is automatic in adaptation, psychologists consider it learning as a cognitive process rather than an unconscious process, whereas physiologists consider it as learning because it is the basic mechanism of learning in changing the response.

The reason why psychologists do not usually consider this form of learning as “learning” is that it does not involve any cognitive skills or co...

Table of contents

• 1.Learning Mechanisms