Pavlovian Conditioning Overview

This set of flashcards covers key concepts of Pavlovian conditioning, including definitions, experimental details, and applications in real-world scenarios.

What is Pavlovian conditioning?

A form of associative learning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

Who introduced conditioning to science?

Ivan Pavlov introduced conditioning to science in 1903.

What was Pavlov studying when he discovered condition responses?

He was studying the activity of the digestive system in dogs.

What did Pavlov observe about dogs when food was presented?

Dogs would salivate at the sight of food or at the person who fed them.

What is the term for the automatic reaction to an unconditioned stimulus (US)?

Unconditioned Response (UR).

What is the unconditioned stimulus (US) in Pavlov's experiments?

Food in the mouth.

What is a conditioned stimulus (CS)?

An object or event that is paired with a US and must be neutral prior to conditioning.

What is the conditioned response (CR) in Pavlov's experiments?

Salivation in response to the CS, originally the bell.

What is an unconditional stimulus (US)?

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

What is an example of conditioning demonstrated in Little Albert's experiment?

A white rat (CS) was paired with a loud noise (US), eliciting fear (CR).

What is systematic desensitization?

A treatment for phobia based on Pavlovian counterconditioning, developed by Joseph Wolpe.

What is habituation?

A form of single-stimulus learning where the response to a repeated stimulus decreases.

What does appetitive conditioning involve?

Pairing of a desirable unconditioned stimulus with a conditioned stimulus.

What is aversive conditioning?

Pairing an undesirable unconditioned stimulus with a conditioned stimulus.

What does the term 'sign tracking' refer to?

When an animal approaches a conditioned stimulus as if it were the unconditioned stimulus.

What is the role of the cerebellum in conditioned responses?

It mediates responses such as the eyeblink response in aversive conditioning.

What is the blocking effect in conditioning?

When prior learning about one CS inhibits learning about a next CS.

What does the Rescorla-Wagner model explain?

It mathematically predicts how surprising a US will be and how much learning will occur.

What does the term 'latent inhibition' refer to?

A phenomenon where prior exposure to a CS retards the acquisition of a CR when that CS is later paired with a US.

What is the significance of the temporal arrangement of CS and US?

The timing affects the strength and ability of the CS to predict the US.

What is conditioned inhibition?

When a CS signals the absence of the US, creating an expectation of no response.

What does 'S-R learning' refer to in Pavlovian conditioning?

Stimulus-Response learning where the CS directly elicits the CR.

What does 'S-S learning' suggest?

Stimulus-Stimulus learning where the CS activates memory of the US, generating CR.

In Pavlov's research, how was saliva collected from dogs?

Gastric tubes were inserted into their stomachs.

What is extinction in the context of Pavlovian conditioning?

The process where the CS is presented without the US, leading to a decrease in the CR.

What is the main statement of the Garcia-Koelling Effect?

Taste aversions are more likely to occur with food eaten prior to sickness than to other cues.

What is the process of systematic desensitization based upon?

Pavlovian counterconditioning.

What physiological adjustments occur due to drug conditioning?

The body makes anticipatory adjustments in response to CS, leading to drug tolerance.

What role does the graphical representation of the Rescorla-Wagner model serve?

It visually illustrates how associative strengths change with experiences in conditioning.

What is the CS-US relevance effect?

Some CS-US combinations facilitate better learning due to their biological significance.

What does the name 'Pavlov's bell' signify in classical conditioning?

It refers to a famous experiment where the sound of a bell was paired with food to condition salivation.

How does temporal coding influence conditioning performance?

It allows organisms to learn precisely when the US will be presented following the CS.

What is the role of familiarity in conditioning?

Repeated exposure to a CS can lead to habituation, reducing its effectiveness in conditioning.

What is an example of aversive conditioning in humans?

Eyeblink conditioning using a tone (CS) paired with a puff of air (US).

How do contextual cues affect conditioning?

They may compound or interfere with associative learning by providing additional signals.

What is meant by performance measures in conditioning?

Assessing how well organisms respond to stimuli based on prior associations and behaviors.

What empirical method did Pavlov introduce to analyze learning?

Objective analysis through scientific methods involving observable responses.

What experiment demonstrated the principles of appetitive conditioning?

Pigeons learning to peck a lighted key for food.

What does a CS-US contingency imply?

It measures how well the CS predicts the occurrence of the US.

What is the significance of the interstimulus interval (ISI) in conditioning?

It's the time between the onset of the CS and the US; longer intervals generally lead to weaker conditioning.

What outcome suggests effective Pavlovian conditioning?

A significant CR occurring in response to the CS.

What does the term 'negative occasion setting' refer to?

A previous CS reducing the responding to a target CS when presented together.

What is the summation test used for in inhibition studies?

To measure the combined effects of an excitatory CS and an inhibitory CS on behavior.

What role does attention play in conditioning according to the Rescorla-Wagner model?

Attention affects the salience or importance of the CS in learning.

What reflects the strength of associative connections in the Rescorla-Wagner model?

The value V, which represents the associative strength of the CS with respect to the US.

Why is it essential to distinguish between sign tracking and goal tracking in conditioning?

They involve different behaviors towards the CS and demonstrate varying associative learning outcomes.

In Pavlov's studies, what did the sight of food represent?

The conditioned stimulus that could elicit salivation after repeated pairings.

How does the Rescorla-Wagner model address the blocking effect?

It establishes that prior associations limit new associative learning opportunities.

What is meant by conditioned excitation?

A CS that signals the occurrence of a US, producing a CR.

What role does the US play in Pavlovian conditioning?

It provides the basis for reinforcing the relationship with the CS during conditioning.

What psychological process is highlighted in the Rescorla-Wagner model?

The relationship and prediction error between CS and US during conditioning trials.

In conditioned inhibition procedures, how is the effectiveness measured?

By assessing changes in responding when CS+ is present alongside a CS-.

What is the relationship between motivational state and CR in S-S learning?

The CR depends on the organism’s current motivational state and cannot happen automatically.

What does the concept of conditioned inhibition imply about absence and expectation?

An absence of expected US events can shape the development of conditioned inhibitors.

How do stimulatory factors influence the effectiveness of a CS?

Stimuli with higher intensity or biological relevance are more conducive to effective conditioning.

What happens to conditioned responses when cues are not presented together?

Cues often lose their associative strength or may develop inhibitions.

What discovery related to drug tolerance exits in the context of Pavlovian conditioning?

Drug users can experience diminished effects due to conditioning related to cues.

Why is extinction considered important in behavior therapy?

It helps reduce conditioned responses associated with negative stimuli or phobias.

Which learning theory focuses on the direct association between CS and CR?

S-R Learning.

How is the performance in the retardation-of-acquisition test evaluated?

By comparing the speed of conditioning in a previously inhibitory CS versus a neutral CS.

What must occur for conditioned inhibition to happen?

There must be an expectation created by a previously reinforced CS when presented with a new CS.

What does a fundamental aspect of Pavlovian conditioning involve?

The linkage of different stimuli through experiences over time.