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Related Concept Videos

Cognitive Learning01:21

Cognitive Learning

Cognitive learning is based on purposive behavior, incidental learning, and insight learning.
E. C. Tolman's theory of purposive behavior emphasizes that much behavior is goal-directed. He argued that to understand behavior, we must look at the entire sequence of actions leading to a goal. For instance, high school students study hard, not just due to past reinforcement but also to achieve the goal of getting into a good college.
Tolman introduced the idea that behavior is influenced by...
Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory01:14

Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory

The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the cerebellum's...
Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory01:26

Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory

Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or playing an...
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Purposive Learning01:22

Purposive Learning

E. C. Tolman emphasized the purposiveness of behavior — the idea that much of our behavior is goal-directed. For instance, employees who aim for a promotion work diligently to meet their targets. Tolman argued that when classical conditioning and operant conditioning occur, the organism acquires certain expectations. In classical conditioning, a child might fear a dog because they expect it to bite. In operant conditioning, a person might consistently work overtime because they expect a bonus...
Observational Learning01:12

Observational Learning

Albert Bandura's observational learning, also known as imitation or modeling, occurs when a person observes and imitates another's behavior. It is a quicker process than operant conditioning. A well-known example is the Bobo doll study, where children who saw an adult acting aggressively towards the doll were more likely to act aggressively when left alone, compared to those who observed a nonaggressive adult. Many psychologists view observational learning as a form of latent learning because...

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Related Experiment Video

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In Vivo Optical Calcium Imaging of Learning-Induced Synaptic Plasticity in Drosophila melanogaster
06:35

In Vivo Optical Calcium Imaging of Learning-Induced Synaptic Plasticity in Drosophila melanogaster

Published on: October 8, 2019

Orbitofrontal cortex supports behavior and learning using inferred but not cached values.

Joshua L Jones1, Guillem R Esber, Michael A McDannald

  • 1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 20 Penn Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. josh.jones@nih.gov

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|November 20, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The orbitofrontal cortex is crucial for inferring value in decision-making, rather than simply signaling economic value. It enables model-based learning by accessing environmental representations for value computation.

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Operant Procedures for Assessing Behavioral Flexibility in Rats
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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Neuroscience
  • Decision Science

Background:

  • Behavioral control models distinguish between cached (stored) and inferred (on-the-fly) value.
  • The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is implicated in inferred value and potentially in signaling economic value.
  • Existing theories debate the precise role of the OFC in value-based decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the specific role of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in value-based behavior and learning.
  • To differentiate between the OFC's contribution to inferred versus cached value computations.
  • To determine if the OFC signals economic value directly or facilitates its computation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized computational and learning theory models to frame the study.
  • Designed experiments to assess behavior and learning under conditions requiring inferred versus cached value.
  • Employed neuroscientific methods to examine the OFC's activity and necessity.

Main Results:

  • The OFC is critical for value-based behavior and learning when value must be inferred.
  • The OFC's role is diminished when cached values are sufficient for guiding behavior.
  • Findings suggest the OFC is essential for accessing model-based representations to compute value.

Conclusions:

  • The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is fundamental for model-based inference of value, not merely a general economic value signal.
  • The OFC's primary function is in utilizing environmental knowledge to compute value, supporting flexible decision-making.
  • This research clarifies the OFC's role in integrating cognitive representations for adaptive behavior.