PSYC2050 3

This set of flashcards covers key concepts and phenomena related to classical conditioning, designed to help understand and recall critical theories and applications in psychology.

What are the basic components of Pavlovian conditioning?

Unconditioned Stimulus (US), Unconditioned Response (UR), Conditioned Stimulus (CS), Conditioned Response (CR)

What phenomenon results in slower learning due to prior associations?

Blocking

What is superconditioning?

Faster learning of association between a neutral stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus when a neutral stimulus is paired with an inhibitory stimulus.

What model explains the prediction of the unconditioned stimulus strength after conditioning?

Rescorla-Wagner model

What is taste aversion in classical conditioning?

A strong aversion to a food or drink developed after it is paired with illness or discomfort, often occurring after just one association.

What is latent inhibition?

The phenomenon where pre-exposing a conditioned stimulus (CS) slows down the rate of conditioning when the CS is later paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US).

How does the Rescorla-Wagner model relate to the blocking effect?

The model suggests that a CS does not change the expected prediction of the US if another stimulus (like noise) already predicts the US, hence blocking occurs.

What is meant by generalization in classical conditioning?

The tendency for the conditioned response (CR) to occur in response to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus (CS).

What is discrimination in classical conditioning?

The ability to differentiate between similar stimuli and respond only to the conditioned stimulus (CS) and not to others.

What does research by Garcia & Koelling (1966) demonstrate about conditioning?

Some associations, like taste with illness, are learned faster than others, challenging the equipotentiality assumption in classical conditioning.

What role do attentional models play in understanding classical conditioning?

They suggest that organisms pay more attention to stimuli that have proven to be strong predictors of important events, affecting learning and conditioning outcomes.

How does classical conditioning apply to clinical settings?

Techniques such as systematic desensitization are used to reduce phobias by gradually exposing clients to the fear-evoking stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus.

In the context of heroin addiction, how does classical conditioning contribute to overdose risk?

Environmental cues associated with heroin use can condition the body to prepare for the drug, and an unfamiliar environment can lead to a decreased tolerance, increasing overdose risk.

What is the renewal effect in fear conditioning?

The phenomenon where a previously extinguished conditioned response reemerges when the conditioned stimulus is presented in a different context.

What is the significance of optogenetics in neuroscience studies related to learning and memory?

Optogenetics allows researchers to control neurons with light to study the neural basis of memory formation and retrieval.