Topic 3 Flashcards
Q: What is Classical Conditioning?
A: Classical Conditioning is a form of learning in which a neutral stimulus (NS) comes to signal the occurrence of a second stimulus. Behaviors are elicited by antecedent stimuli, and the conditioning process involves the manipulation of these stimuli.
Example: Pavlov’s dogs learned to salivate (conditioned response) when they heard a bell (conditioned stimulus) because the bell was repeatedly paired with food (unconditioned stimulus).
Q: What is an Unconditioned Stimulus (US)?
A: An unconditioned stimulus is a stimulus that naturally elicits an unconditioned response without prior conditioning.
Example: Food is an unconditioned stimulus because it naturally elicits salivation (unconditioned response) in dogs.
Q: What is an Unconditioned Response (UR)?
A: An unconditioned response is the natural, automatic response elicited by an unconditioned stimulus. It usually has survival value.
Example: Salivation in response to food is an unconditioned response.
Q: What is the difference between Appetitive and Aversive unconditioned stimuli?
A:
Appetitive: A stimulus that an organism finds pleasant (e.g., food, play).
Aversive: A stimulus that an organism finds unpleasant (e.g., loud noise, pain).
Example: Food is an appetitive stimulus, while an electric shock is an aversive stimulus.
Q: What is Habituation?
A: Habituation is the process by which an organism responds less strongly over time to repeated stimuli. It is highly specific to the stimulus producing it.
Example: If you hear a loud noise repeatedly, you may stop reacting to it after a while.
Q: What is a Neutral Stimulus (NS)?
A: A neutral stimulus is a stimulus that does not naturally elicit a response.
Example: A bell ringing does not naturally cause a dog to salivate.
Q: What is a Conditioned Stimulus (CS)?
A: A conditioned stimulus is a previously neutral stimulus that, after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, elicits a conditioned response.
Example: After pairing a bell (NS) with food (US), the bell becomes a conditioned stimulus that elicits salivation (CR).
Q: What is a Conditioned Response (CR)?
A: A conditioned response is a learned response elicited by a conditioned stimulus after it has been repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
Example: Salivation in response to a bell (CS) after the bell has been paired with food (US).
Q: What is the Acquisition Process in classical conditioning?
A: The acquisition process is the initial stage of learning where a neutral stimulus (NS) is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US) to create a conditioned response (CR).
Example: A puff of air (US) causes an eye blink (UR). After pairing a red light (NS) with the puff of air, the red light alone (CS) eventually causes an eye blink (CR).
Q: What is Higher-Order Conditioning?
A: Higher-order conditioning occurs when a conditioned stimulus (CS) is paired with a new neutral stimulus (NS), and the new NS also elicits the conditioned response (CR).
Example: After a red light (CS) has been conditioned to elicit an eye blink (CR), pairing the red light with a bell (NS) can cause the bell to also elicit an eye blink.
Q: What factors influence Classical Conditioning?
A: Factors include:
Nature of the NS and US (intensity, salience, relevance).
Temporal Relationship (timing between NS and US).
Contingency (reliability of NS predicting US).
Number of pairings (more pairings strengthen the association).
Previous exposure to the NS (latent inhibition).
Example: A loud noise (intense US) paired with a light (NS) will condition faster than a soft noise paired with the same light.
Q: What is Temporal Contiguity?
A: Temporal contiguity refers to the closeness in time between the presentation of the neutral stimulus (NS) and the unconditioned stimulus (US).
Example: In short-delay conditioning, the NS (e.g., a tone) is presented just before the US (e.g., food), which is the most effective timing for conditioning.
Q: What is Contingency in classical conditioning?
A: Contingency refers to the reliable co-occurrence of the neutral stimulus (NS) and the unconditioned stimulus (US). The NS must predict the US for conditioning to occur.
Example: If a tone (NS) always precedes a shock (US), the tone will become a conditioned stimulus (CS). If the shock occurs randomly, conditioning will not occur.
Q: What is Latent Inhibition?
A: Latent inhibition occurs when pre-exposure to a neutral stimulus (NS) without the unconditioned stimulus (US) interferes with the ability of that NS to become a conditioned stimulus (CS).
Example: If a dog hears a bell many times without food, it will be harder to condition the bell to elicit salivation later.
Q: What is Blocking in classical conditioning?
A: Blocking occurs when a neutral stimulus (NS) fails to become a conditioned stimulus (CS) because it is part of a compound stimulus that includes an already effective CS.
Example: If a light (CS) already predicts food, adding a tone (NS) to the light will not make the tone a CS because the light “blocks” the tone from becoming a CS.
Q: What is Conditioned Taste Aversion (CTA)?
A: Conditioned taste aversion is a learned aversion to a food after it is paired with an aversive consequence (e.g., illness). It can occur after just one pairing and even if the illness occurs hours later.
Example: If you eat a novel food and then feel sick, you may develop an aversion to that food, even if the sickness was unrelated.
Q: What is a Conditioned Emotional Response (CER)?
A: A conditioned emotional response is an emotional reaction to a stimulus that is acquired through classical conditioning. CERs can be positive or negative.
Example: Little Albert developed a fear (CER) of white rats after the rats were paired with a loud noise (US).
Q: What is the Rescorla-Wagner Model?
A: The Rescorla-Wagner Model explains how associative strength changes during conditioning. It states that learning occurs when there is a discrepancy between what is expected (V) and what actually occurs (λ).
Example: If a tone (CS) predicts a shock (US) better than expected, the associative strength of the tone increases.
Q: What is Sensory Preconditioning?
A: Sensory preconditioning occurs when two neutral stimuli (A & B) are paired together, and then one (B) is conditioned to become a CS. Later, the other stimulus (A) also elicits the conditioned response (CR).
Example: If a light (A) and a tone (B) are paired, and then the tone (B) is conditioned to elicit salivation, the light (A) will also elicit salivation.
Q: What is the role of the US on the form of the CR?
A: The form of the conditioned response (CR) often resembles the unconditioned response (UR) but is specific to the unconditioned stimulus (US).
Example: If the US is food, the CR might be pecking (as if eating). If the US is water, the CR might be slower pecking with swallowing (as if drinking).
