Conditioning and Learning Exam 1

Functional relation:

When the value of the DV changes in an orderly fashion as a function of

the IV.

Direct replication:

Repetition of an experimental method exactly as it was originally designed

and executed.

Systematic replication:

Repetition of an experimental method under circumstances that differ

from the original experiment. [For example, conditions might be imposed in a different order; the

range of an independent variable might be extended, or the kind of organism might be changed.]

Parametric replication:

Repeat the experiment with changing one variable across a range of

values.

Control system theory:

a branch of science that deals with goal-directed behaviors in both

living creatures and inanimate objects.

Reflex:

a stereotyped pattern of movement of a part of the body that can be reliably elicited by

presenting the appropriate stimulus.

Spinal reflex arc:

a neural pathway that allows the body to automatically respond to a stimulus

without involving the brain.

Tropism:

is a movement or change in orientation of the entire animal.

Kinesis:

a type of movement in which an organism’s response is related to the intensity of the

stimulation but is not oriented in any spatial direction (direction of movement is random in

relation to a stimulus).

Taxis:

active movement of motile organisms in response to a stimulus (direction of movement

bears some relationship to the location of the stimulus).

Fixed Action Patterns:

a stereotyped, genetically preprogrammed, species-specific behavioral

sequence that is evoked by a releaser stimulus.

Sign stimulus:

a stimulus that, when presented under the proper conditions, initiates a fixed

action pattern.

Reaction chain:

Whereas fixed action patterns continue until completion once started, in a

reaction chain the progression from one behavior to the next depends on the presence of the

appropriate

stimulus.

Habituation:

defined as a decrease in the strength of a response after repeated presentation of a

stimulus that elicits the response

Orienting response:

a behavioral response to an altered, novel, or sudden stimulus, such as

turning one’s head toward an unexpected noise

Simple system approach:

The "simple systems approach" refers to a research strategy where

scientists study primitive or simpler organisms with less complex nervous systems to investigate

fundamental biological processes.

Positron emission tomography (PET) scan:

an imaging technique using radiolabeled tracers,

such as 2-deoxyglucose labeled with fluorine-18, that emit positively charged particles

(positrons) as they are metabolized. Used to evaluate cerebral metabolism and blood flow as well

as the binding and transport of neurotransmitter systems in the brain, PET enables documentation

of functional changes that occur during the performance of mental activities

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan:

a noninvasive brain imaging technique

that measures brain activity by tracking changes in blood oxygenation and flow.

Opponent-process theory:

a theory that a stimulus or event simultaneously arouses a primary

affective state, which may be pleasurable or aversive, and an opponent (opposite) affective state,

which serves to reduce the intensity of the primary state: These two states together constitute

emotional experience.

a-process:

represents the primary emotional or physiological response to a stimulus.

b-process:

a secondary, opposing response that counteracts the A-process over time.

tolerance:

a condition, resulting from persistent use of a drug, characterized by a markedly

diminished effect with regular use of the same dose of the drug or by a need to increase the dose

markedly over time to achieve the same desired effect

Classical conditioning:

The modification of respondent behavior by stimulus-stimulus

contingencies, so that a previously neutral stimulus comes to elicit a response.

Unconditioned stimulus (US):

a stimulus that elicits an unconditioned response.

Unconditioned response (UR):

the unlearned response to a stimulus.

Conditioned stimulus (CS):

a neutral stimulus that is repeatedly associated (see pairing) with an

unconditioned stimulus until it acquires the ability to elicit a response that it previously did not.

Conditioned response (CR):

in classical conditioning, the learned or acquired response to a

conditioned stimulus

Conditioned suppression:

a phenomenon that occurs during an operant performance test when a

conditioned response to a positive stimulus is reduced by another stimulus that is associated with

an aversive stimulus.

Skin conductance response (SCR):

a physiological response that measures how the skin's

electrical conductivity increases when the body is aroused by a stimulus.

Stimulus substitution theory:

a theory of classical conditioning that states that a conditioned

stimulus (CS) can replace an unconditioned stimulus (US) to trigger the same response

Conditioned compensatory responses:

an automatic response that is opposite to the effect of

alcohol or substance usage.

Sign-tracking theory:

Sign tracking describes the propensity of individuals to engage with a

conditioned stimulus (CS) that has been paired with a rewarding unconditioned stimulus (US),

even when the location of the eventual reward is not colocalized with the CS

Acquisition phase:

the initial stage of learning, when a response is first established and

gradually strengthened.

Extinction:

the decrease or disappearance of the conditioned response when the unconditioned

stimulus is no longer presented with the conditioned stimuli.

Spontaneous recovery:

the reappearance of a Conditioned Response (CR) that has been

extinguished.

Disinhibition:

the reappearance of a conditioned response once the response has been made

extinct.

Rapid reacquisition:

occurs when a conditioned response returns after extinction, and the

conditioned stimulus (CS) and unconditioned stimulus (US) are paired again

Excitatory CS:

occurs when a conditioned stimulus (CS) has a positive relationship with the

unconditioned stimulus (US).

Inhibitory CS (aka Conditioned inhibitor):

prevents the occurrence of a CR or reduces the

size of the CR from what it would otherwise be.

Compound CS:

The simultaneous presentation of two or more CSs

Generalization:

the spread of effects of conditioning to stimuli that differ in certain aspects from

the stimulus present during original conditioning.

Generalization gradient:

a graph marking the similarity or difference between two stimuli

versus the similarity or difference in their elicited responses.

Discrimination:

the ability to differentiate between a conditioned stimulus and other stimuli that

have not been paired with an unconditioned stimulus

Short-delay conditioning:

Consider the unconditioned reflex whereby food elicits (US) elicits

salivation (UR). In Short Delay Conditioning, a tone (NS) might sound immediately before the

food (US) is presented. Consequently, the tone (CS) may come to elicit salivation (CR) even in

the absence of food.

Simultaneous conditioning:

Consider the unconditioned reflex whereby food elicits (US) elicits

salivation (UR). In Simultaneous Conditioning, a tone (NS) might sound at the same time that

food (US) is presented.

Trace conditioning:

Consider the unconditioned reflex whereby food elicits (US) elicits

salivation (UR). In Trace Conditioning, a tone (NS) might briefly sound several seconds before

the food (US) is presented. The tone does not sound during the intervening interval.

Consequently, the tone (CS) may come to elicit salivation (CR) even in the absence of food.

With repeated conditioning trials, salivation may become increasingly delayed to the tone,

occurring progressively closer in the time to food delivery. The eliciting effect of the tone may

be less pronounced the longer the typical intervening interval between it and the food

presentation.

Long-delay conditioning:

Consider the unconditioned reflex whereby food elicits (US) elicits

salivation (UR). In Long Delay Conditioning, a tone (NS) might sound for several seconds

before the food (US) is presented. Consequently, the tone (CS) may come to elicit salivation

(CR) even in the absence of food. With repeated conditioning trials, salivation may become

increasingly delayed to when tone first sounds, occurring progressively closer in the time to food

delivery. In addition, the eliciting effect of the tone may be less pronounced the longer its typical

duration prior to food delivery

Backward conditioning:

Consider the unconditioned reflex whereby an electric shock to the

foot elicits (US) elicits foot withdrawal (UR). In Backward Conditioning, a tone (NS) might sound after the foot shock (US) is delivered. Consequently, the tone (CS) may come to elicit foot

withdrawal (CR) even in the absence of foot shock. However, should this effect be observed, it is

likely to be smaller than had the tone sounded before the foot shock.

Temporal coding hypothesis:

Consider the unconditioned reflex whereby food elicits (US)

elicits salivation (UR). In Temporal Conditioning, food (US) would be presented at regular

intervals (e.g., once every minute). Consequently, salivation may occur just prior to food

delivery; this effect is observed in the absence of any identifiable stimulus paired with the food

other than the constant inter-food interval.

Second-order conditioning:

a neutral stimulus is associated with another stimulus that has

already been linked to an unconditioned stimulus (US).

Evaluative conditioning:

Evaluative conditioning is defined as a change in the valence of a

stimulus that is due to the pairing of that stimulus with another positive or negative stimulus. The

first stimulus is often referred to as the conditioned stimulus and the second stimulus as the

unconditioned stimulus. A conditioned stimulus becomes more positive when it has been paired

with a positive unconditioned stimulus and more negative when it has been paired with a

negative unconditioned stimulus. Evaluative conditioning thus refers to attitude formation or

change toward an object due to that object's mere co-occurrence with another object.

Systematic desensitization:

a form of behavior therapy in which counterconditioning is used to

reduce anxiety associated with a particular stimulus.

Aversive counterconditioning:

aims to replace a positive response to a harmful stimulus with a

negative response.

Blocking:

In classical conditioning, the finding that there is little or no conditioning to a stimulus

if it is presented along with a previously conditioned stimulus on conditioning trials

Overshadowing:

In classical conditioning, the finding that there is less conditioning to

a weak conditioned stimulus if it is presented along with a more intense conditioned stimulus.

Overexpectation effect:

A decrease in the strength of responding to two conditioned stimuli that

have been trained separately that occurs if they are presented as a compound CS and followed by

the usual unconditioned stimulus.

CS preexposure effect:

The finding that classical conditioning proceeds more slowly if the

conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented by itself before it is paired with the unconditioned

stimulus.

Comparator theories:

A theory of classical conditioning that states that the strength of a

conditioned response depends on a comparison of the likelihood of an unconditioned stimulus in

the presence of the conditioned stimulus versus its absence

Contextual stimuli:

The sights, sounds, and smells of a creature’s environment.

Attribute conditioning:

A type of classical conditioning in which the attributes or

characteristics of one stimulus are transferred to another stimulus

Cerebellum:

A part of the brain, located in the back of the head beneath the cerebral cortex, that

is important for many skilled movements.

Cue exposure treatment:

In the treatment of drug addictions, exposing the individual to stimuli

that are normally associated with the drug, so that conditioned drug cravings can be

extinguished.

Tolerance:

A decrease in the effects of a drug that is observed after repeated use of the drug.

Equipotentiality premise:

The hypothesis that a stimulus or response that is difficult to

condition in one context should also be difficult to condition in all other contexts.

Prepared associations:

An association between stimuli, or between stimuli and responses, in

which members of a particular species have an innate tendency to learn quickly and easily.

Conditioned opponent theory:

A theory of classical conditioning that states that the later

portions of an unconditioned response (which are often opposite in form to the early portions)

become associated with the conditioned stimulus. The theory accounts for conditioned responses

that appear to be the opposite of the unconditioned response.

Sometimes opponent process (SOP):

A general theory of classical conditioning, developed by

Allan Wagner, which speculates about why some conditioned responses are similar in form and

others are opposite in form to the unconditioned response.