Aversive__Excitatory__and_Inhibitory_CC

Chapter 3: Classical Conditioning Procedures

Overview of Classical Conditioning

• Classical Conditioning Procedure: Involves pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

• Appetitive Conditioning:

  • Involves pairing a desirable stimulus (e.g., food) with a neutral stimulus, leading to a conditioned response (e.g., salivation in dogs).

  • Most studied form of classical conditioning.

• Aversive Conditioning:

  • Involves pairing a negative stimulus (e.g., a painful bite from a spider) with a neutral stimulus.

  • Results in a conditioned emotional response (e.g., fear).

Aversive Conditioning Characteristics

• Speed of Learning: Aversive conditioning occurs rapidly, often requiring only a few pairings of the neutral stimulus and unconditioned stimulus.

  • Example: Fear of dogs after a bite.

• Significance of Aversive Conditioning: Rapid learning of negative associations has notable survival advantages.

• Research on Aversive Conditioning:

  • Although not as extensively studied as appetitive conditioning, there has been some exploration, notably by B.F. Skinner.

B.F. Skinner’s Contributions

• Developed a Conditioned Emotional Response (CER) and a Condition Suppression Paradigm to measure aversive conditioning.

  • Established a baseline behavior before introducing the neutral stimulus paired with an aversive stimulus.

• Suppression Ratio:

  • Defines how much behavior is suppressed when the conditioned stimulus is presented.

  • Formula: Suppression Ratio = (Number of Conditioned Responses) / (Number of Conditioned Responses + Number of Pre-conditioned Responses).

  • Interpretation of Ratios:

    • Ratio = 0.5 indicates no suppression; 0.0 indicates total suppression.

    • Example: A pigeon may stop pecking due to associated hooks with an impending shock from a red light.

Types of Conditioning

• Excitatory Conditioning:

  • A conditioned stimulus leads to an increase in the likelihood of a response.

  • Can incorporate both appetitive or aversive stimuli.

• Inhibitory Conditioning:

  • A conditioned stimulus reduces the likelihood of a response that would typically occur.

  • Example Scenario: Fear of needles diminishes in the presence of a tattoo artist.

  • Distinction from avoidance responses: Inhibitory conditioning does not equate to avoiding stimuli but can block fear responses.

Notation in Conditioning Diagrams

• Familiar symbols defined for use in conditioning diagrams:

  • U: Unconditioned Stimulus

  • UR: Unconditioned Response

  • SN: Neutral Stimulus

  • CS: Conditioned Stimulus

  • CR: Conditioned Response

• C+ and C-:

  • C+ (Excitatory Conditioned Stimulus): Example, a metronome signaling food in dogs.

  • C- (Inhibitory Conditioned Stimulus): Example, the presence of a tattoo artist inhibiting fear responses in a needle-phobic individual.

Chapter 3: Classical Conditioning Procedures

Overview of Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning is a fundamental learning process that involves the association of events or stimuli in the environment. It serves as a mechanism by which responses are formed through the pairing of a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

Classical Conditioning Procedure

• Basic Concept: In classical conditioning, a condition occurs when a neutral stimulus (SN) comes to elicit a specific response after being repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US) that naturally triggers that response (UR).

Appetitive Conditioning

• Definition: This type of conditioning involves pairing a desirable stimulus, such as food, with a neutral stimulus.

• Example: In Pavlov's famous experiment, dogs were conditioned to salivate (CR) when they heard a metronome (CS) after it was paired with food (US). This salivation response is a conditioned reaction to the previously neutral sound of the metronome.

• Significance: Appetitive conditioning is the most studied form of classical conditioning, reflecting how positive associations can shape behavior.

Aversive Conditioning

• Definition: Aversive conditioning pairs a negative or unpleasant stimulus with a neutral stimulus.

• Example: An example includes a person developing a fear of dogs after being bitten (US) when encountering a dog (SN).

Aversive Conditioning Characteristics

• Speed of Learning: Aversive conditioning occurs rapidly and can often require only a few pairings of the neutral stimulus with the aversive unconditioned stimulus.

• Significance of Aversive Conditioning: Learning negative associations quickly has notable survival advantages, as it helps individuals avoid potentially harmful situations.

Research on Aversive Conditioning

Although aversive conditioning has not been as extensively studied as its appetitive counterpart, research has contributed to a better understanding of how negative stimuli can condition emotional responses and influence behaviors. Notably, B.F. Skinner explored these concepts in depth.

B.F. Skinner’s Contributions

• Conditioned Emotional Response (CER): Skinner developed the concept of CER, which assesses how a previously neutral stimulus can elicit an emotional response following aversive conditioning.

• Condition Suppression Paradigm: Skinner’s paradigm involved establishing a baseline behavior prior to introducing the neutral stimulus paired with an aversive stimulus.

Suppression Ratio

• Definition: The suppression ratio quantifies the level of conditioned response suppression when a conditioned stimulus is presented, giving a measure of how strongly the behavior is conditioned.

• Formula: Suppression Ratio = (Number of Conditioned Responses) / (Number of Conditioned Responses + Number of Pre-conditioned Responses).

• Interpretation: A ratio of 0.5 indicates no suppression, while a ratio of 0.0 indicates total suppression.

• Example: For instance, if a pigeon learns that pecking a button leads to an electrical shock when a red light appears, its pecking behavior would decrease, showing how the presentation of the conditioned stimulus (red light) suppresses the normal response (pecking).

Types of Conditioning

Excitatory Conditioning

• Definition: This occurs when a conditioned stimulus increases the likelihood of a specific response.

• Examples: Can involve both appetitive and aversive stimuli and demonstrates how certain signals can enhance behavioral responses.

Inhibitory Conditioning

• Definition: Inhibitory conditioning refers to the process where a conditioned stimulus diminishes the likelihood of a response that would typically occur.

• Example Scenario: For example, a person who fears needles may find that their fear subsides in the presence of a tattoo artist, indicating that the tattoo artist serves as an inhibitory stimulus.

• Distinction from Avoidance Responses: It's important to note that inhibitory conditioning differs from avoidance responses. Inhibitory conditioning reduces fear responses without necessitating the active avoidance of stimuli.

Notation in Conditioning Diagrams

To facilitate understanding and analysis, the following symbols and notation are commonly used in conditioning diagrams:

• U (Unconditioned Stimulus): A stimulus that naturally triggers an emotional or physiological response.

• UR (Unconditioned Response): The natural reaction evoked by the unconditioned stimulus.

• SN (Neutral Stimulus): A stimulus that initially does not elicit a response until it is paired with a US.

• CS (Conditioned Stimulus): The previously neutral stimulus that, after conditioning, elicits a conditioned response.

• CR (Conditioned Response): The learned response to the conditioned stimulus.

• C+ and C-:

  • C+ (Excitatory Conditioned Stimulus): E.g., a metronome signaling food in Pavlov's experiments.

  • C- (Inhibitory Conditioned Stimulus): E.g., the presence of a tattoo artist inhibiting fear responses in someone who typically fears needles.