PSYCH 1X03 - Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning

Automatic response to a neutral stimulus that becomes CS after being associated with US

Non associative learning

Change in response to a single stimulus.

Type 1: Habituation - you get used to the stimulus

Type 2: Sensitization - you get more sensitive to stimulus overtime

Associative learning

Learning relationship between two things

Type 1. Classical Conditioning - Learn that two stimuli go together (ex. bell and food)

Type 2: Operant Conditioning - Learn that behaviour has consequences

Long term potentiation

Repeated activity (practise) strengthens the connection between neurons, making it easier to send signals

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

The thing that naturally causes a response.

Ex. Food - makes dog salivate

Remember Un-conditioned = not taught

Unconditioned Response (UR)

Natural response to US

Ex. Dog salivating to food

Conditioned Stimulus (CS) 

A neutral thing, that after being paired with US, triggers response

Ex. Bell - rings when food is ready

Conditioned Response (CR)

Learned response to CS (same as UR)

Ex. Dog salivating when bell is rang even if food is not there

Classical Conditioning 4 steps

1. Bell rings (CS) - dog notices

2. Food appears (US) - dog salivates (UR)

*After learning, the CS (bell) alone will trigger salivation

Extinction

The CR (salivation) fades when the CS (bell) no longer predicts the US (food). 

Ex. If the bell rings too many times without food the dog gradually stops salivating to the bell. 

Spontaneous Recovery

Sudden recovery of CR (salivation) after rest period, even after extinction

Ex. A few days later, the dog salivates hearing the bell ring.

Implosive Therapy

The person faces the fear directly

Ex. Person scared of spiders - holds spider

Systematic Desensitiziation

The person gradually faces their fear

Ex. Person scared of spiders: looks at spider in jug - holds spider

Contiguity

How close in time and place the CS and US happen. 

Ex. CS(Bell) rings right after US(Food) - Learning is faster

Dishabituation

Your response increases again after a change in a stimulus you already gotten used to (habituation) 

Ex. You stopped noticing fan (habituation) 

If fan increases in speed, you notice it again

Extinction trials vs test trials

Extinction trials: CS presented alone without US to reduce CR

Test Trials: Check if CR is still there

Acquistion

Initial phase where organism associates CS with US

Higher-Order conditioning

A new neutral stimulus becomes a CS by being paired with an already CS, producing same CR 

Ex. Bell (CS) - Dog salivation (CS) 

Light (new CS) - Dog salivation (CS) 

Orientating Response

An automatic shift toward a stimulus or event

Ex. You hear a sudden noise - you turn your head and focus on it