PSYCH 1X03 CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

2 types of unconscious learning

classical conditioning and instrumental conditioning

Classical Conditioning

learning a contingency between a particular signal and a later event that are paired in time and/or space

Classical Conditioning vs Instrumental Conditioning

Classical conditioning allows us to associate 2 related events

Instrumental conditioning allows us to associate actions and consequences

Latent Learning

experimentally we can observe the effects of learned behaviour that is not yet reflected in performance

Pavlov's experiment

sounded a bell while presenting food to a dog, thereby stimulating the natural flow of saliva in the dog's mouth

Conditional Reflex

conditional stimulus (CS) elicits a conditional response (CR)

Contingency

formed when conditioned stimulus reliably predicts the unconditioned stimulus

Example of contingency

A flash of lightning predicts thunder

Unconditional

occurs naturally, prior to any learning

Unconditional Stimulus (US)

stimulus that automatically triggers a response, in absence of any learning

Example of Unconditional Stimulus (US)

Food placed in dogs mouth, eating a lemon

Unconditional Response (UR)

response that occurs after the unconditioned stimulus, always follows after the US without need of training or learning, biologically programmed reflex

Example of Unconditional Response (UR)

Salivating when food is placed in mouth

Conditional Stimulus (CS)

previously neutral stimulus that is paired with the unconditioned stimulus to produce a learning contingency

Example of Conditional Stimulus (CS)

sound of metronome paired with placing food in mouth

sight of lemon being paired with tasting a lemon

_____ stimulus usually appears before the _____ stimulus

CONDITIONAL stimulus usually appears before the UNCONDITIONAL stimulus

TRUE OR FALSE: it only takes one trial to pair conditional and unconditional stimuli before the CS alone can elicit a response

FALSE, it may take SEVERAL TRIALS for CS alone can elicit a response

Conditional Response (CR)

response that occurs once the contingency between the US and the CS have been learned, after very similar to UR

Example of Conditional Response (CR)

Salivating at the sound of metronome

Acquisition

process by which a contingency between a CS and US is learned

Pavlov characterized acquisition as...

a negatively accelerating curve

Why is acquisition a negatively accelerating curve?

most of learning happens in early trials, during each consecutive trial there is learning but not as much as previous trials

Special case where same contingencies can be acquired in single trials

Rats have learning mechanism to avoid unfamiliar foods, or when trying new foods only eat small amounts to avoid being poisoned

Contingency will remain long as ____ stimulus continues to be a cue for the ____ stimulus

Contingency will remain long as CONDITIONAL stimulus continues to be a cue for the UNCONDITIONAL stimulus

What happens if the conditional stimulus is no longer a reliable cue?

Conditioned response will fade

Extinction

Loss of CR when CS no longer predicts the US

Spontaneous Recovery

sudden recovery of the conditional response following a rest period after extinction

Spontaneous recovery invovles...

inhibitory learned response

What does extinction promote?

learned inhibitory response that competes with original learned contingency

How does extinction trials differ from test trials?

test trails are presented only ONCE after acquisition to test conditioning strength

Higher-Order Conditioning

occurs when a strong conditioned stimulus is paired with a neutral stimulus, causing the neutral stimulus to become a second conditioned stimulus

Stimulus Generalization

process by which stimuli similar to CS will elicit a CR

Example of Stimulus Generalization

being bit by a corgi results in the fear of all dogs

What happens to the generalization gradient during extinction?

will be flattened

Stimulus Discrimination

restricts range of conditioned stimuli that can elicit a response

CS+ Stimulus

predicts presence of US

CS- Stimulus

predicts absence of US

When the CS- is paired with the absence of a US...

It will elicit no UR, and therefore no CR.

If both CS+ and CS- stimuli are presented...

subject will show an immediate fear response

Generalization provides...

efficiency and flexibility

Discrimination provides...

refined learning process

Phobia

exaggerated, intense, persistent fear

2 common therapies

implosive therapy and systematic desensitization

Implosive Therapy

individual is encouraged to confront the CS that evokes their anxiety

CS is presented without associated US

Can be tramatic

Systematic Desensitization

more gradual exposure to fear stimulus, start extinguishing stimuli at ends of generalization curve and working towards middle

More accessible

Compensatory Response

process which counteracts a challenge to homeostasis

Habituation

decrease in response to stimulus or event as it is repeatedly presented without any consequence

Sensitization

increase in response to a stimulus or event as it is repeatedly presented

Addictions

Chemical changes associated with drug administration are also signalled by cues

Why do compensatory responses exist

to protect the body from stimuli which threaten physiological regulation

What is the mechanism of extinction

After extinction, presenting the cs may elicit a response

• This shows how extinction and acquisition are two different contingencies