Episode 11: How to Train a Brain

Behaviorism

an empirically rigorous science focused on observable behaviors and not unobservable internal mental processes (Ivan Pavlov was a tremendous influence to this)

Primary Reinforcer

an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need

Extinction

when a conditioned behavior is no longer used

Associative Learning

when a subject links certain events, behaviors, or stimuli together in the process of conditioning

Operant Conditioning

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer

Classical Conditioning

a type of learning in which one learns to link 2 or more stimuli and anticipate events - learning can be studied through direct observation of behavior

Learning

The process of acquiring, through experience, new and relatively enduring information or behaviors - allows us to adapt to environment and survive

Positive Reinforcement

a stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response

Reinforcement Schedule

a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced

Conditioned Reinforcer

a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer (i.e. need of money for food/shelter)

Shaping

an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior towards closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior (use successive approximations to get there

Negative Reinforcement

any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response (i.e. the beep that goes off when you don't wear a seatbelt turns off when you do put it on) (not the same as punishment)

Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement

reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement.