journal.pone.0033400.pdf (212.07 kB)
Rapidly measuring the speed of unconscious learning: amnesics learn quickly and happy people slowly
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 13:49 authored by Zoltan DienesZoltan Dienes, Roland J Baddeley, Ashok JansariBACKGROUND We introduce a method for quickly determining the rate of implicit learning. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The task involves making a binary prediction for a probabilistic sequence over 10 minutes; from this it is possible to determine the influence of events of a different number of trials in the past on the current decision. This profile directly reflects the learning rate parameter of a large class of learning algorithms including the delta and Rescorla-Wagner rules. To illustrate the use of the method, we compare a person with amnesia with normal controls and we compare people with induced happy and sad moods. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Learning on the task is likely both associative and implicit. We argue theoretically and demonstrate empirically that both amnesia and also transient negative moods can be associated with an especially large learning rate: People with amnesia can learn quickly and happy people slowly
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Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Published version
Journal
PLoS ONEISSN
1932-6203Publisher
Public Library of ScienceExternal DOI
Issue
3Volume
7Article number
e33400Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2012-11-20First Open Access (FOA) Date
2012-11-20First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2012-11-20Usage metrics
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