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Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Learning01:18

Introduction to Learning

Learning is the process of acquiring knowledge or skills through practice or experience, leading to long-lasting behavioral changes. This acquisition occurs through interaction with the environment and requires practice or experience. For instance, mastering a skill such as surfing requires considerable practice and experience, highlighting the essential role of repeated interactions with the environment in learning.
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Observational Learning01:12

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Eye-tracking Technology and Data-mining Techniques used for a Behavioral Analysis of Adults engaged in Learning Processes
10:43

Eye-tracking Technology and Data-mining Techniques used for a Behavioral Analysis of Adults engaged in Learning Processes

Published on: June 10, 2021

Learning in a changing environment.

Maarten Speekenbrink1, David R Shanks

  • 1Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London. m.speekenbrink@ucl.ac.uk

Journal of Experimental Psychology. General
|May 5, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study explored learning in changing environments, finding that people adapt to new cue-outcome relationships similarly, whether changes are sudden or gradual. Participants demonstrated insight into their learning, favoring global predictions over local ones.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Eye-tracking Technology and Data-mining Techniques used for a Behavioral Analysis of Adults engaged in Learning Processes
10:43

Eye-tracking Technology and Data-mining Techniques used for a Behavioral Analysis of Adults engaged in Learning Processes

Published on: June 10, 2021

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive psychology
  • Machine learning
  • Behavioral neuroscience

Background:

  • Traditional cue probability learning research often assumes static environments.
  • Understanding learning dynamics in non-stationary settings is crucial for real-world applicability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate human learning in environments with changing cue-outcome contingencies.
  • To differentiate between local and global learning mechanisms.
  • To examine the role of insight in cue probability learning.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted three experiments manipulating cue-outcome relations over time.
  • Analyzed learning dynamics to assess responsiveness to environmental changes.
  • Applied formal learning models (associative learning, Bayesian linear filter) to participant data.

Main Results:

  • Participants adapted to both abrupt and gradual changes in cue-outcome relations.
  • No qualitative differences were observed in adaptation to different change types.
  • Evidence supported global learning models over local ones, particularly in Experiment 3.
  • Participants exhibited significant insight into their learned associations.

Conclusions:

  • Human learning in changing environments is adaptable and shows insight.
  • Global learning models better capture the observed learning dynamics.
  • A novel model was proposed to explain cue competition effects.