psyc2050 2

Flashcards covering key concepts in classical conditioning as discussed in the Learning & Cognition course.

What is classical conditioning?

Classical conditioning is a fundamental learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a naturally occurring, unlearned stimulus, eventually leading to the neutral stimulus eliciting the same innate response. This process often involves involuntary, automatic behaviors.

What is an Unconditioned Stimulus (US) in classical conditioning?

An Unconditioned Stimulus (US) is any stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers an unlearned, reflexive response without any prior learning or training. For example, food naturally causes salivation in a dog.

Define an Unconditioned Response (UR) in the context of classical conditioning.

An Unconditioned Response (UR) is the unlearned, natural, and automatic reaction or reflex that occurs in response to an Unconditioned Stimulus (US). This response does not require any previous conditioning.

What is a Conditioned Stimulus (CS)?

A Conditioned Stimulus (CS) is initially a neutral stimulus that, through repeated association with an Unconditioned Stimulus (US), begins to evoke a learned response that it did not originally elicit.

Explain the concept of a Conditioned Response (CR).

A Conditioned Response (CR) is the learned reaction or behavior that an individual or animal exhibits in response to a previously neutral (now conditioned) stimulus. This response is acquired through the conditioning process and is often similar to the Unconditioned Response.

What is habituation?

Habituation is a simple form of learning where an organism's reflexive or behavioral response to a stimulus decreases or disappears over time following repeated presentations of that same stimulus, especially if the stimulus is deemed harmless or irrelevant.

Describe the 'Acquisition' phase in classical conditioning.

Acquisition is the initial stage of classical conditioning where the neutral stimulus is consistently paired with the unconditioned stimulus. During this phase, the association is formed, and the conditioned stimulus begins to elicit the conditioned response.

What is extinction in classical conditioning?

Extinction is the process where the conditioned response weakens and eventually disappears when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the subsequent unconditioned stimulus. This occurs because the learned association is no longer reinforced.

Define spontaneous recovery in terms of classical conditioning.

Spontaneous recovery is the unexpected reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest, during which the conditioned stimulus was not presented. This suggests that extinction suppresses, rather than erases, the learned association.

What is the renewal effect in classical conditioning?

The renewal effect describes the phenomenon where a conditioned response, extinguished in one context, reappears when the conditioned stimulus is presented in a different context (either the original acquisition context or a novel one). This highlights the context-dependency of extinction.

What is inhibitory conditioning?

Inhibitory conditioning is a type of classical conditioning where the conditioned stimulus comes to predict the absence or non-occurrence of the unconditioned stimulus. Instead of signaling an event, it signals that an event will not happen.

How is the "summation test" used to identify an inhibitory conditioned stimulus?

The summation test is a method used to determine if a stimulus acts as an inhibitor. It involves presenting the potential inhibitory stimulus alongside an excitatory conditioned stimulus. If the combined presentation reduces the conditioned response normally elicited by the excitatory stimulus alone, then the stimulus is considered an inhibitor.

Explain the "retardation test" in the context of inhibitory conditioning.

The retardation test is a procedure used to confirm if a stimulus has acquired inhibitory properties. It involves attempting to establish an excitatory conditioned response to the suspected inhibitory stimulus. If this new learning is retarded or slower compared to learning with a truly neutral stimulus, it indicates that the stimulus had a pre-existing inhibitory association.