PSYC2050 Learning & Cognition - Classical Conditioning (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the Classical Conditioning sections of the lecture notes.

Classical conditioning (Pavlovian)

A form of learning in which a previously neutral stimulus (CS) comes to elicit a response (CR) after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US) that naturally elicits that response (UR).

Unconditioned stimulus (US)

A stimulus that naturally elicits a reflexive response (UR) without prior learning.

Unconditioned response (UR)

The reflexive response elicited by the US.

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that, after pairing with the US, elicits a conditioned response (CR).

Conditioned response (CR)

The learned response to the conditioned stimulus after CS–US pairings.

Acquisition

Phase during which the CS is paired with the US and the CR strengthens.

Extinction

Process in which the CS is presented without the US, leading to a weakening of the CR; not erasure.

Spontaneous recovery

Reappearance of the CR after a rest period following extinction.

Renewal

Recovery of the CR when extinction is context-specific and the CS is presented in a different context.

Reinstatement

Recovery of the CR after re-exposure to the US following extinction.

Excitatory conditioning

CS predicts the occurrence of the US; the CS gains the ability to trigger the CR.

Inhibitory conditioning

CS predicts the absence of the US; the CS becomes an inhibitor of the CR.

Retardation test

A method to test for conditional inhibition by timing how slowly a CS that became inhibitory can be trained to become excitatory.

Summation test

A test for inhibition by measuring whether an inhibitor reduces the CR to a new, separate CS when presented together.

Blocking

A phenomenon where prior conditioning to one CS prevents learning about a new CS when paired with the same US.

Superconditioning

The opposite of blocking; a neutral CS acquires stronger conditioning when paired with a US in the presence of an already-established inhibitor.

Trace conditioning

CS is presented and terminated, followed by a short interval before the US; learning relies on a memory trace.

Delay conditioning

CS is presented before the US and overlaps with it; the CS–US interval is the delay.

Simultaneous conditioning

CS and US are presented at the same time.

Backward conditioning

US is presented before the CS; conditioning is typically weak or unreliable.

Interstimulus interval (ISI)

Time between CS offset and US onset; influences acquisition speed and strength of the CR.

Eyeblink conditioning

A classic conditioning paradigm where a tone (CS) predicts a puff of air to the eye (US) that elicits an eyeblink (UR/CR).

Pavlov

Ivan Pavlov, Russian physiologist who studied digestion and discovered classical conditioning through salivation experiments in dogs.

Pavlov’s salivation experiments

Dogs learned to salivate in response to a CS after repeated CS–US pairings; demonstrated conditioned responses.

Little Albert

An experiment by Watson & Rayner showing conditioned fear to a white rat and generalization to other stimuli.

Watson (John B. Watson)

Founder of Behaviorism; emphasized study of observable behavior and environmental influence on learning.

Free Energy Principle

Karl Friston’s theory that biological systems minimize free energy (surprise) to resist disorder; a predictive Bayesian view of action, perception and learning.

Entropy (in this context)

A measure of surprise or uncertainty; higher entropy means a more unpredictable environment.

Habituation

Non-associative learning: decline in response to repeated presentation of the same, non-significant stimulus.

Flooding (clinical application)

Exposing someone extensively to a feared stimulus to reduce fear responses (extinction-based therapy).

Taste aversion

A conditioning phenomenon where a taste becomes associated with illness and avoidance can occur after a single trial.

Blocking effect

When a previously conditioned CS prevents learning about a new CS when the two are paired with the same US.

Blocking experiment (Kamin 1968)

Classic demonstration of blocking where prior learning to one cue reduces learning about a second cue paired with the same US.

Extinction context specificity

Extinction learning is often tied to the context in which it occurs; renewal shows CR return in a different context.

Inhibition tests (summation and retardation)

Tests used to demonstrate that a CS has become an inhibitor: summation reduces a new CR, retardation slows learning to become excitatory.