Pavlovian Learning: Basic Principles

Flashcards covering key concepts from Pavlovian learning principles learned in PSYC 241.

Pavlovian Conditioning

A type of learning in which an organism comes to associate stimuli; originally discovered by Ivan Pavlov.

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without prior conditioning.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

An originally neutral stimulus that, after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response.

Conditioned Response (CR)

The learned response to a previously neutral stimulus that has become a conditioned stimulus.

Contiguity

The principle that events that occur together in time and space become associated in the mind.

Contingency

The predictive relationship between the conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus in conditioning.

Extinction

A process in conditioning where the conditioned response decreases when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous Recovery

The reappearance of a conditioned response after a pause following extinction.

Backward Conditioning

A conditioning procedure where the unconditioned stimulus is presented before the conditioned stimulus.

Simultaneous Conditioning

A conditioning procedure where the conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus are presented at the same time.

Trace Conditioning

A conditioning procedure where there is a gap between the end of the conditioned stimulus and the start of the unconditioned stimulus.

Forward Delayed Conditioning

A conditioning procedure where the conditioned stimulus is presented and then overlaps with the unconditioned stimulus.

CS Preexposure Effect

A phenomenon where prior exposure to a conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus can impair subsequent conditioning.

Overshadowing

A phenomenon in conditioning where one element of a compound stimulus is more salient and commands more attention, overshadowing the other elements.

Blocking

A phenomenon where prior conditioning to one stimulus impairs conditioning to a new stimulus when both are presented together.