PSGY2014 Learning

Fixed action patterns:

• are learned behaviours

• are triggered automatically without any stimulus

• are a sequence of actions that does not proceed to completion if the stimulus is removed halfway through the sequence

• are always triggered by a sign stimulus

Which of the following statements about classical conditioning is true?

• animals learn the association between a CS and an US

• animals learn that the US predicts the CS

• animals learn that the US predicts the CR

• animals learn the association between a CS and a response

In operant conditioning:

• a response controls the absence of an outcome

• a response predicts a stimulus

• a response controls the presence of an outcome

• all of the remaining answers

In an autoshaping procedure with pigeons, they increase pecking behaviours on a flashing light because

• the light predicts food

• pecking predicts food

• light predicts pecking

• none of the remaining answers

According to the stimulus substitution theory:

• CRs are always different to URs

• the mental representation of US can only be activated by the US

• CRs are mostly similar to the URs

• CR is directly associated with the CS

Which one of the following statements is true, regarding the extinction of appetitive classical conditioning

• Conditioned responses progressively weaken

• extinguished conditioned responses never return

• conditioned responses progressively increase

• animals voluntarily withhold conditioned responses

The suppression ratio:

• is a measure of appetitive conditioning

• is the rate of responses before conditioning divided by the rate of responses after conditioning

• is a measure of change in appetitive behaviours before and after conditioning

• none of the remaining answers

Habituation refers to

• the increase in an innate response due to repeated reinforcement

• a phenomenon that is unique to humans

• a form of associative learning

• none of the remaining answers are correct

Sensory preconditioning

• is a potential explanation for spontaneous recovery of conditioned responses

• demonstrates that an US must be directly paired with a CS, to elicit a CR

• confirms that a motivationally significant event is not necessary for learning through classical conditioning

Autoshaping

• is not a form of classical conditioning

• is characterised by an increase in involuntary responses that are encouraged by rewards

• is a procedure that can be used to generate an unnatural response from an animal

• is clearly explained by operant conditioning