1. Define classical conditioning and instrumental [operant] learning. How are they
different? What is learning, reinforcement, reflexive behavior?
2. Define neutral stimulus[ns], unconditioned stimulus[us], unconditioned response [ur], conditioned stimulus [cs], conditioned response [cr]. What is acquisition? Describe Pavlov's classic experiment on dogs.
3. What is higher order conditioning, conditioned emotional response [cer], vicarious conditioning, stimulus generalization, discrimination, extinction and spontaneous recovery? When do generalization, discrimination, extinction and spontaneous recovery occur? What is vicarious conditiong?
4. How is behavior shaped in operant conditioning? What must occur for a reinforcer to change a behavior [most of the time]?
5. What is the difference between a positive and a negative reinforcer? How does negative reinforcement differ from punishment?
6. What are primary and secondary reinforcers? What are social reinforcers and tokens? What is the Premack principle?
7. List and define the 4 main partial reinforcement schedules. What kinds of learning acquisition curves do these produce?
8. What is behavior modification? What are aversion therapy and systematic desensitization? What are operant therapies?
9. What are the three stages through which memory must pass in order to be stored semi-permanently? Define these stages. Explain how rehearsal and selective attention are important in these stages.
10. Is memory permanent and accurate? What is meant by memory is a constructive process?
11. How is long-term memory organized? What are the components of long-term memory [describe at least 2 ways memory can be broken down]?
12. Define recall, recognition, relearning, priming. Can strategies be used to keep more than 7 plus or minus 2 items in short term memory?
13. Describe the processes involved in forgetting. Include information about decay, disuse, state dependent learning, serial position effects, interference, suppression and repression [as well as other processes]. What does the curve of forgetting look like? Is repression real? What is a flash-bulb memory.
14. Identify the 2 major categories of amnesia. Describe how Korsakoff's syndrome and Alzheimers affect memory.
15.Where are memories formed and stored in the brain? How does the brain change during learning? What is recall and recognition?
16. Describe some processes that will improve memory.
17. In the film viewed in class, one patient with an amputated arm reported the sensation of pain in the phantom limb when the side of his face was touched. What was Dr. Ramachandran's explanation for this experience? Another patient reported recognizing his parents but believing they were impostors. What was Dr. Ramachandran's explanation of this phenomena?
18. In the film viewed in class - describe the brain injuries in patients EP and Chuck that produced problems with anterograde amnesia.
19. In the film, what disease in rats appeared to be improved through treatment with a chemical that was dripped into their noses? What techniques in the film did they recommend for keeping ones brain healthy and assisting with memory?
20. What evidence in the film did they present that memory is not accurate?
21. Describe size, shape and brightness constancy. What is a perceptual grouping? What is perception?
22. Describe the Gestalt principles of nearness, similarity, continuity, closure, contiguity, and common region.
23. What cues do we use to perceive depth?
24. What is perceptual learning? What is a perceptual set or expectancy?
25. Describe the difference between adaptation and habituation.
26. What is consciousness? Describe waking and altered states of consciousness
27. Describe the major stages of sleep; include descriptions of the brain activity in each stage. What does our cycle of sleep look like over the course of a normal night [describe the course of a normal night]? How does sleep deprivation affect people?
28. What is REM sleep? In what part of the sleep cycle does dreaming occur?
29. How does our pattern of sleep change when we are stressed or fatigued?
30. What are the apparent functions of dreaming? Describe the psychodynamic theory about dream meaning and the activation-synthesis theory of dream ‘meaning'?
31. What are the common sleep problems?
32. Describe meditation and hypnosis.
33. What are psychoactive drugs and how do they normally work? What is a site of action? What are the 3 basic categories of psychoactive drugs?
34. What is dependence? How does physical dependence differ from psychological dependence? Why does the same drug administered in different ways have different effects?
35. Describe the effects of caffeine, nicotine, amphetamine, cocaine, alcohol, tranquilizers, and marijuana [both their immediate effects and their long term effects - ie. their probability of causing dependency]. Which category of psychoactive drug does each of these fall into?
36. What is poly-pharmacy? Why is it important to consider this when prescribing drugs or when taking over the counter drugs?