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Learning (Lecture 3). The goal: Survival in face of unknown challenges The tools: a . Adaptation of society across generations by genetic change. b . Adjustment of individuals by exploitation of the genetic endowment: Unconditioned behaviors.
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Learning (Lecture 3) The goal: Survival in face of unknown challenges The tools: a. Adaptation of society across generations by genetic change. b. Adjustment of individuals by exploitation of the genetic endowment: Unconditioned behaviors. Conditioned (learned) behaviors.
Perspectives on learning Behaviorist: Simple associations between events and behaviors are the building blocks of complex learning. Cognitive: Flow of information…knowledge. Biological: Brain plasticity, synaptic strength. Ethological: Species specific learning constrained by genetic endowment. 21/11/05
Explanation in psychology • Finding: Learning. • Explanation: Psychological generalization: Hypothetical structure explains the learning process (predictive value of CS…). Biological reductionism: Biological structure explains the learning process (synaptic plasticity).
Behavior Neurons level Systems level Biological reductionism Sub-Neuronal level Neurons Computational models at all levels
Measuring behavior: then and now Thorndike’s Puzzle Boxes Modern technology
Classical conditioning (2) • Unconditioned behavior: US-UR Reflex arc Tabula rasa? (Locke) • Conditioned behavior: CS-CR • Association-contingency: CS-US time & space • UR - CR: motor & emotional • 2nd order conditioning: CS serves as US Contingency = מקרה
Classical conditioning (3) • Temporal CS-US contiguity ? Contiguity is not enough ! • Contingency - cognitive predictability of US by CS. • Biological up and down modulation of synaptic strength. Contiguity = סמיכות Classical conditioning in aplysia: Prediction of future in aplysia ?
Classical conditioning (4) Clinical examples: Anticipatory nausea in chemotherapy Placebo effects Craving for drugs Panic attacks Phobic responses Motor balance restoring reflexes
Operant learning (1) Active organism Simple trial-and-error Learning: behavioral operation on the environment & feedback from the environment Law of effect: selection of responses that are followed by positive feedback.
Operant learning (2) Feedback from the environment: Reinforcement: behavior up + reinforcement: after the response - reinforcement: terminated by response Punishment: behavior down
Operant learning (3) Clinical examples: Patient adherence Frequent attending Drug dependence Token economics
Complex Learning Cognitive perspective: Acquisition of mental representations of the world. Thought as a simulation of the reality. Operate on mental representations (VR?).
From behaviorism to cognitive sciences Tolman’s cognitive map Mental representation of the space and not a sequence of left-right turns
Neuroscience perspective (1) Most learning laws are based on Hebb’s rule dated 1949: if two neurons are simultaneously active, then …. the connection between them gets stronger Learning = plasticity of Hebbian synapse