Learning - Chpt. 3 - Pavlovian

Elicited behavior

Reflexes

Unconditioned respondents

Responses that occur naturally without prior learning.

Laws of the reflex

Principles that govern reflexive behavior.

Habituation

Decrease in a reflexive response with repetition of the stimulus.

Spontaneous recovery of UR

The re-emergence of an unconditioned response after a period of no stimulus.

Conditioned respondents

Learned responses that occur due to conditioning.

Acquisition

The process of developing a conditioned response.

Extinction

The reduction of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus.

Spontaneous recovery of CR

The reappearance of a conditioned response after a rest period.

Respondent generalization

The tendency for a conditioned response to occur in response to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus.

Respondent discrimination

The ability to differentiate between similar stimuli and respond only to the conditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned Reflexes

Reflexes that are phylogenetic in origin and biologically significant.

Common Lab Methods

Techniques used to study conditioned responses, such as eyeblink conditioning and conditioned suppression.

The Law of Threshold

For any reflex, there is a magnitude of the US which will elicit a UR of approximately 50% of the presentations.

Law of Intensity/Magnitude

Intensity of elicited UR is directly related to intensity of the US.

The Law of Latency

The time between the onset of the US and the onset of the UR.

Habituation in the orienting response

A decrease in response to a stimulus over time.

Acoustic Startle Response

A reflexive response to a sudden loud sound.

Infant Orienting Response

The tendency of infants to focus on novel stimuli.

Some Basic Behavioral Relations

The distinction between respondent behavior (S → R) and operant behavior (R → S).

Conditioned (al) Stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that, after conditioning, elicits a conditioned response (CR).

Unconditioned vs. Conditioned Respondents

Conditioned respondents do not obey the laws of the reflex.

Pavlovian Conditioning

A learning process where a neutral stimulus (NS) becomes associated with a significant stimulus (US) to elicit a conditioned response (CR).

Ivan Pavlov

A Russian physiologist known for his work on digestive processes and the study of salivation responses in dogs.

Respondent Acquisition

The process where repeated presentations of a neutral stimulus (NS) with an unconditioned stimulus (US) lead to an increase in the conditioned response (CR).

Respondent Extinction

The decrease in the conditioned response (CR) that occurs when a conditioned stimulus (CS) is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus (US).

Spontaneous Recovery of a CR

The reappearance of the conditioned response (CR) when the conditioned stimulus (CS) is presented after a period of extinction.

Generalization Gradient

A graph plotting the relationship between stimulus value and the magnitude of the response in the context of respondent generalization.

Hypothetical Generalization Gradient

A theoretical model showing that tones most similar to a training conditioned stimulus (CS) produce conditioned responses (CRs).

Compound Stimuli

The simultaneous presentation of two or more conditioned stimuli (CSs) that elicit a single conditioned response (CR).

Rescorla-Wagner Model of Pavlovian Conditioning

A mathematical model that describes the change in associative strength (Vi) based on the salience (Si) and maximum associative strength (Vmax).

Stimulus Substitution Theory

The theory suggesting that after conditioning, a conditioned stimulus (CS) can substitute for the unconditioned stimulus (US) in eliciting a response.

Opponent Process Theory

A theory that posits that a conditioned stimulus (CS) can elicit a physiological response that is opposite to the effects of the unconditioned stimulus (US).

Conditioned Compensatory Response (CCR)

A physiological response that is opposite to the effects of a drug, elicited by a neutral stimulus that has been repeatedly paired with the drug.

Drug-Injection in a New Environment

The phenomenon where experiencing a drug in a new environment can increase the risk of overdose compared to familiar settings.

Blocking

A phenomenon in Pavlovian conditioning where the presence of a previously established conditioned stimulus (CS) prevents the acquisition of a new conditioned stimulus (NS).

Overshadowing

A situation in Pavlovian conditioning where a more salient conditioned stimulus (CS) overshadows a less salient one, leading to a weaker conditioned response (CR) to the latter.

Systematic Desensitization

A therapeutic process used to reduce anxiety responses by gradually exposing a patient to the feared stimulus while in a relaxed state.

Exposure Therapy

A psychological treatment that involves exposing the patient to the feared object or context without any danger to help them overcome their anxiety.

Aversion Therapy

A behavioral therapy that uses negative reinforcement to discourage undesirable behaviors by associating them with unpleasant stimuli.