Chapter 22 The Impact of Random and Consistent Reinforcement on Skill Learning
Scientific research shows that the human brain contains around 100 billion neurons that communicate through synapses using action potentials as their language. When certain neurons frequently communicate with each other, they form specific neuronal circuits and networks, which serve as the basis for all of our behaviors. As these circuits are repeatedly activated, the brain secretes a substance called myelin sheath, which increases the speed of signal transmission between neurons. Once a particular set of neuronal networks is sufficiently enveloped by myelin sheath, these networks become fixed. For instance, when people learn how to ride a bicycle, they need to activate 27 different regions in the brain to complete this task. Initially, the neurons in these 27 regions are unfamiliar with each other because they have not "cooperated" before. However, with practice, these initially unfamiliar neurons gradually become friends and then colleagues, always ready to work together whenever the task of riding a bicycle is required. The learning process involves the establishment of neuronal networks within the brain, but the creation and maintenance of these networks differ depending on the type of learning involved. This is where the concept of reinforcement in psychology comes into play.
Enhancing plays a crucial role in the subjective agency of individuals during the learning process. As humans, we are inherently wired to seek pleasure and avoid pain. If negative events occur during the process of learning a skill, the individual loses the motivation to continue learning. It is well-known that reinforcement can be classified into positive and negative reinforcement. Let us now explore another classification of reinforcement, which is random reinforcement and consistent reinforcement.
Early researchers studying random and consistent reinforcement were botanists who conducted an experimental study on the watering patterns of tree seedlings. They found that different reinforcement patterns given to plants in different environments can lead to changes in gene expression, which are enduring. Behavioral psychologists during World War II also studied the effects of/>/>
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