We learn in two principle ways, through repetition and through feedback.
The theoretical basis for learning through repetition is Hebb's postulate - "neurons that fire together, wire together." In terms of what happens, repetition is thought to first induce long term potentiation (LTP). Following the creation of an LTP like state, it is believed that long term changes occur at the synaptic level.
Preparatory Questions
1. What is LTP? Use the following two papers as references: Caporale 2008 and Lomo 2003.
2. What are the long term changes that occur at the synapse related to learning through repetition. Use the following two papers as a reference: Luscher 2012 and Mayford 2012.
3. Put what you have learned together. When an action is repeated, how does learning occur? This CHAPTER may help you.
We also learn through feedback. Intriguingly, it appears that feedback dependent learning follows the principles of reinforcement learning. Specifically, when we experience outcomes we compute prediction errors - the difference between our expectancies and our outcomes and we use these to modify behaviour.
Preparatory Questions
Use the first chapter of Sutton 2018 to answer the following three questions.
4. What is reinforcement learning?
5. What is a prediction error?
6. How are prediction errors used to modify behaviour?
7. In terms of how prediction errors are reflected within the brain, it is thought that dopamine plays a prominent role. Review Schultz et al. 1997. What is the key finding and how does it related to how reinforcement learning might occur in the human brain? (focus on the role of dopamine).
8. Studies using fMRI have provided insight into the regions of the brain involved in feedback dependent learning. What are the roles of the striatum, medial prefrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex in the feedback learning process? THIS review paper should help.
9. How does it all fit together? In other words, what is one model for a neural feedback dependent learning system involving the prefrontal cortex, the ACC, the striatum, and the midbrain dopamine system. THIS paper should help, but note that this is only one of many theories.
EXAM QUESTION
8. How do we learn? Make sure you discuss learning via repetition and learning via feedback. Ensure you discuss both the theoretical and neural aspects of learning.
The theoretical basis for learning through repetition is Hebb's postulate - "neurons that fire together, wire together." In terms of what happens, repetition is thought to first induce long term potentiation (LTP). Following the creation of an LTP like state, it is believed that long term changes occur at the synaptic level.
Preparatory Questions
1. What is LTP? Use the following two papers as references: Caporale 2008 and Lomo 2003.
2. What are the long term changes that occur at the synapse related to learning through repetition. Use the following two papers as a reference: Luscher 2012 and Mayford 2012.
3. Put what you have learned together. When an action is repeated, how does learning occur? This CHAPTER may help you.
We also learn through feedback. Intriguingly, it appears that feedback dependent learning follows the principles of reinforcement learning. Specifically, when we experience outcomes we compute prediction errors - the difference between our expectancies and our outcomes and we use these to modify behaviour.
Preparatory Questions
Use the first chapter of Sutton 2018 to answer the following three questions.
4. What is reinforcement learning?
5. What is a prediction error?
6. How are prediction errors used to modify behaviour?
7. In terms of how prediction errors are reflected within the brain, it is thought that dopamine plays a prominent role. Review Schultz et al. 1997. What is the key finding and how does it related to how reinforcement learning might occur in the human brain? (focus on the role of dopamine).
8. Studies using fMRI have provided insight into the regions of the brain involved in feedback dependent learning. What are the roles of the striatum, medial prefrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex in the feedback learning process? THIS review paper should help.
9. How does it all fit together? In other words, what is one model for a neural feedback dependent learning system involving the prefrontal cortex, the ACC, the striatum, and the midbrain dopamine system. THIS paper should help, but note that this is only one of many theories.
EXAM QUESTION
8. How do we learn? Make sure you discuss learning via repetition and learning via feedback. Ensure you discuss both the theoretical and neural aspects of learning.