324 01 history, methodology

04/10/2023

Human LearningTopic 1: Historical Contexts, Methodology, and

Non-Human Research.

Cedp 324 - Ryan Sain, Ph.D.1

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Descartes Dualism

Early 1600’s

Prior to Descartes: conscious intent and free will ruled the day.

Behavior was not lawful.

Descartes believed that some

behavior was lawful.

Voluntary vs. Involuntary (the reflex)

Cartesian Dualism

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The Reflex Arc

Sensory input is REFLECTED in the

response.

Why reflex?

Stimulus (sense)

Muscles (voluntary

, involuntar

y)

BrainPineal Gland

Mind

Source of voluntary Behavior

•Arrows represent nerves.•Animal spirits (inside nerves) •Other critters have reflexes only

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Dualism

Mind

Body

Separate but working together

Two new fields

Mentalism

Reflexology

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Mentalism

Study of how the mind works

Cognitive psychology

Descartes:

Mind contains things outside of experience God, concept of self, axioms of geometry

Nativism

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A Debate

Nativism (Descartes and others)

Empiricism (John Locke and others – 1600 - 1800)

Tabula Rasa

Association Basic experiences combine

to form complex ideas

Rules Contiguity, similarity,

contrast

This debate rages on

NOT

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Comparative Cognition

Descartes started a fire – humans are not as unique as we think we are

Darwin took it a step further

He claimed contiguity between species

The human mind is the product of evolution Other critters may share our abilities

Very difficult to investigate

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Investigating Intelligence

A definition proposed:

Romanes (1882) “to make new adjustments, or modify old ones, in

accordance with the results of it’s own individual experience.”

Familiar?

This became it’s own branch – Comparative Psychology

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Neural Function

Pavlov

Focusing on gastric secretions

Nervism – all key physiological functions are governed by the nervous system

Eventually studied conditioning of reflexes A form of learning

Step two in using animal models

Exploring biological function

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Animal Models

Animals provide a model of human behavior

Primates, rats, pigeons

Models are not perfect

But representative

Comparable in terms of features or functions

Simple, easily controlled, less expensive

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Learning Defined

What are some definitions?

Your book:

“Learning is an enduring change in the mechanisms of behavior involving specific stimuli and/or responses that results from prior experience with those or similar stimuli and responses”

A functional definition A relatively permanent change in behavior due to

experience of the organism.

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Learning vs. Performance

Observation issues

Learning without performance?

Only way to know learning has occurred

Change in performance is not necessarily learning

Factors influencing behavior

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The Science of Learning

Prior experience effects learning

Looking for cause and effect Requires experimentation

Manipulate events and measure effects

Behavior change not due to learning

Fatigue, maturation

Need to rule these out

We look for general laws – commonalities

We are empirical

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Credits:

Photo of Descartes – Ken Wilson

http://kenwilsonelt.wordpress.com/2010/01/

Caricature of John Locke – Ryan Neal

http://ryanjneal.blogspot.com/2009/03/john-locke-caricature.html

Image of John Locke – philosopher

http://www.spaceandmotion.com/philosophy-john-locke-biography.htm

Cedp 324 - Ryan Sain, Ph.D.