Rapidly measuring the speed of unconscious learning: amnesics learn quickly and happy people slowly

Article

Dienes, Zoltan, Baddeley, Roland J. and Jansari, A. 2012. Rapidly measuring the speed of unconscious learning: amnesics learn quickly and happy people slowly. PLoS ONE. 7 (3), p. e33400.
AuthorsDienes, Zoltan, Baddeley, Roland J. and Jansari, A.
Abstract

Background: We introduce a method for quickly determining the rate of implicit
learning.
Methodology: 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: 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.

Keywordsamnesia; learning
JournalPLoS ONE
Journal citation7 (3), p. e33400
ISSN1932-6203
Year2012
Accepted author manuscript
License
CC BY-ND
Web address (URL)http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0033400
http://hdl.handle.net/10552/1454
Publication dates
Print23 Mar 2012
Publication process dates
Deposited22 Feb 2012
FunderEconomic and Social Research Council
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License: CC BY-ND

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