Generalisation vs. Discrimination: Stimulus Control and Conditioning - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts of stimulus control, generalisation, and discrimination from the lecture notes.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

A neutral stimulus that, after pairing with an unconditioned stimulus (US), comes to elicit a conditioned response (CR).

Unconditioned Stimulus (US)

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

Conditioned Response (CR)

The learned response to the conditioned stimulus after conditioning.

Classical Conditioning (CC)

A learning process in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response.

Instrumental Conditioning (IC)

Learning where behavior is shaped by consequences, with reinforcement or punishment guiding future responses.

Stimulus Control

The influence of a stimulus on the probability or strength of a particular behavior.

Context as CS

The environment or setting can act as a conditioned stimulus that controls behavior.

Stimulus Discrimination

The ability to respond differently to two or more stimuli based on differences in predictive value.

Stimulus Generalisation

The tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the training stimulus.

Generalisation Gradient

The relationship between stimulus similarity to the CS and the strength of the conditioned response.

Pavlov

Founder of classical conditioning who observed generalisation to stimuli beyond the training stimuli.

Reynolds (1961)

A pigeon study showing how different stimuli can come to control behavior, illustrating individual differences.

Overshadowing

A phenomenon where one stimulus in a compound overshadows the learning about another stimulus.

Stimulus Element

A component of a compound stimulus that can compete with other elements for control.

Elemental Processing

Treating a complex stimulus as separate elements that may independently acquire control.

Configural Processing

Treating a stimulus as a whole configuration; learning depends on the arrangement of elements.

Pearce's Configural Processing Model

A model where learning yields a configured representation of CS and context; responding depends on similarity to this configuration.

Generalisation Decrement

A reduced CR when an element of the training CS is removed.

External Inhibition

A reduced CR when an element is added to the training CS.

Visual Stimuli Control

Visual CS tend to exert stronger control when the CS has appetitive properties.

Auditory Stimuli Control

Auditory CS tend to exert stronger control when the CS has aversive properties.

Garcia’s Bright and Noisy Water

A study showing that some stimuli are more predisposed to acquire control given a US due to evolution.

Konorski Go/No-Go Task

Experiment testing whether responses are guided by spatial location or by sound in go/no-go conditions.

Quality-Location Effect

A finding where control strength depends on whether stimuli are distinguished by location or by quality (sound) of the stimulus.

Stimulus Competition

Elements of a compound compete for mental processing, influencing which aspects gain control.

Stimulus Element Approach

View that a complex stimulus can be parsed into core elements that contribute to learning.

Relative Stimulus Validity Training

Discrimination procedure where A and C are represented with excitatory/inhibitory strengths to elicit correct responding.

A+/B- Training

Discrimination training where A is reinforced (S+) and B is not (S-).

S+ (Excitatory Stimulus)

A cue that signals reinforcement (excites responding).

S- (Inhibitory Stimulus)

A cue that signals the absence of reinforcement (inhibits responding).

Intradimensional Discrimination

Discrimination where S+ and S- differ on a single stimulus feature (e.g., wavelength or pitch).

S+/S- Discrimination in Classical Conditioning

Discrimination training in CC where S+ predicts reinforcement and S- predicts nonreinforcement.

S+/S- Discrimination in Instrumental Conditioning

Discrimination training in operant conditioning where responding in the presence of S+ is reinforced and in the presence of S- is not.

Discrimination Training in Classical Conditioning

Training using CS+ (S+) and CS- (S-) to shape conditioned responses.

Discrimination Training in Instrumental Conditioning

Training using S+ and S- to shape operant responding based on reinforcement contingencies.

Stimulus Similarity and Learning

The similarity between S+ and S- influences discrimination learning and gradient shape (e.g., peak shift when similar).

Simultaneous vs Sequential Presentation

Discrimination is easier when stimuli are shown simultaneously (visual) than when presented sequentially.

Masking

A mask between stimuli reduces attention to elements and makes discrimination harder.

Context Generalisation

Generalising the conditioned response across different contexts.

Prior Learning and Generalisation Gradient

The gradient is largely determined by prior learning experiences rather than the physical properties of stimuli.

Complexity of Stimulus and Control

More complex stimuli (more variables) offer more potential elements to gain stimulus control; perception limits what can become CS.