Chapter 7
Basic forms of learning (conditioning) 
Associative learning - brain automatically registers things that occur close together in time (learned associations or links) 

Classical conditioning - Ivan Pavlov 
    neutral stimulus (NS)
    unconditioned stimulus (US)   ("unconditioned" means it did not have to be learned - body responds reflexively to this stimulus with no previous experience)
    unconditioned response (UR) (the built-in reflexive response to the US - again, this biological response did not have to be learned)
    conditioned stimulus (CS) stimulus which only comes to trigger a response because of learning
    conditioned response (CR) learned response to the CS

Terms about the learning process
acquisition 
generalization
discrimination 
extinction 
spontaneous recovery 

examples of classical conditioning 
conditioned emotional response (Watson) 
conditioned physiological responses 
conditioned responses to images or sounds

Operant Conditioning and Cognitive Learning)
Edward Thorndike, his puzzle box and his "law of effect" 
Operant conditioning;  BF Skinner
operant chamber or Skinner box
systematic investigation of the impact of "consequences" on behavior
shaping behavior using consequences
Types of consequences
    positive vs negative reinforcement
    positive vs negative punishment
disadvantages of the use of punishment
ways of modifying behavior without using physical punishment 
behavior modification
Shaping a response using reinforcement
continuous reinforcement - reinforcing every correct response
alternative to continuous reinforcement: partial reinforcement or "schedules of reinforcement"
    fixed ratio (FR)
    variable ratio (VR)
    fixed interval (FI)
    variable interval (VI) 
Acquisition, generalization, extinction, spontaneous recovery terms can also be applied to operant conditioning situations
comparison of classical conditioning and operatn conditioning (see Table 7.4)
Biological constraints on learning

Cognitive learning

"Insight" learning (Kohler) (see p 327)
"Latent Learning" and Cognitive maps (Tolman)
Observational or social learning or "modeling" (Bandura)
Observational learning of aggressive behaviors versus prosocial behaviors
Biologically ready to observe and imitate (mirror neurons)
Biological basis for imitation of a model  - mirror neurons

Chapter 6

What is the difference between sensation and perception?

"Bottom-up" processing- sensory receptors provide input to cortex
sensory receptors- transduction of outside stimuli to neural messages
Electromagnetic energy; visible spectrum, light waves and their wavelength & intensity
Parts of the eye and their functions 
the structure of the retina
characteristics of rods versus cones
visual pathway from retina to visual cortex
parallel processing of different aspects of vision
Young-Helmholtz or trichromatic theory color vision
opponent process theory of color vision
(more about visual perception further down)
parallel processing of the different aspects of sensory input ( e.g. color, shape, brightness, motion, depth  or pitch, loudness, rhythm, pattern)
conscious and unconscious levels of sensory processing

Sound waves and how they relate to the sounds we hear 
Parts of ear, cochlea, hair cells; auditory cortex
how does brain locate sounds
conduction deafness/hearing loss  
sensorineural deafness/hearing loss
cochlear implants

special features of pain sensation: gating of pain messages; stimuli that "close the gate"; endorphins, acupuncture, hypnosis

smell (olfaction) receptors and taste (gustation) receptors 
pheromones 
sensory interaction

Perception- how the brain organizes & interprets the sensory input from millions of sensory receptors
    organization of input to detect features
    Gestalt principles of perceptual organization to discern figures (objects) from background
    rolle of expectations or "perceptual set"
    Depth perception cues  (6 monocular (artist's) vs 2 binocular cues (retinal disparity and convergence)) 
    perceptual constancies
    "Top-down" influences on perception (e.g. effects of experience, expectations, motivation, context)