Variables Affecting Pavlovian Learning

CS-US Pairings

More pairings lead to increased learning.

Curvilinear Relationship

Learning increases then plateaus with more pairings.

ITI( Intertrial Interval)

gap between trials and leads to better conditioning

Asymptote

Learning eventually reaches a maximum level.

CS-US Contiguity

US must follow CS quickly for effective conditioning.

Delay in Conditioning

Longer delays reduce conditioning effectiveness.

CS-US Contingency

Good conditioning if the CS predicts the US

Contingency Rule

If CS occurs, US should follow; otherwise, no US.

Intertrial Interval (ITI)

Gap between trials affects conditioning strength.

Longer ITI

Longer intervals improve conditioning outcomes.

Relative Duration

Critical for conditioning; absolute duration is less important.

Salience

More intense stimuli condition faster.

Reversing Conditioning

Complete reversal is impossible; but CR can be eliminated. Ex. repeatedly presenting the CS without the US, leading to the weakening of the learned association

Fear Conditioning

Avoiding feared stimuli may reduce fear response.

Extinction

Presenting CS alone decreases CR over time.

Spontaneous Recovery

CR may reappear after extinction period.

Trace Conditioning

CS ends before US starts; effective if gap is small.

Delay Conditioning

CS and US overlap partially during conditioning.

Simultaneous Conditioning

CS and US occur at the same time; ineffective.

Backward Conditioning

US precedes CS; generally produces poor results.