Chapter 3 - Elicited Behaviours and Classical Conditioning Flashcards
What is habituation?
A decrease in the strength of an elicited behaviour following repeated presentations of the eliciting stimulus.
What is sensitisation?
An increase in the strength of an elicited behaviour following repeated presentations of the eliciting stimulus.
What can fixed action patterns also be called?
modal action patterns
What is long term habituation?
A type of habituation in which the behaviour decreases in strength slowly and also recovers slowly.
What is short term habituation?
A type of habituation in which the response quickly decreases but also quickly recovers.
What is the suppression ratio?
A figure which represents the amount of observed fear. It is the number of responses during the (fear-inducing) CS condition divided by.. that same number added to the number of responses during the pre-CS period.
A smaller ratio tells us that the organism responds less during the fear condition and therefore is being more suppressed.
What is the inter stimulus interval (ISI)
The time between the onset of the neutral stimulus and the onset of the unconditioned stimulus.
What is the optimal ISI for conditioning autonomic responses (e.g. salivation) ?
A few seconds.
What does ISI stand for?
Inter stimulus interval
What is the optimal ISI for conditioning skeletal responses?
Half a second
What is the function of the NS when conditioning works well?
Serves as a predictor for the US.
What is appetitive conditioning?
Conditioning in which the US is an event or stimulus that the organism seeks out
What is aversive conditioning?
Conditioning in which the US is an event or stimulus that the organism avoids.
What is backwards conditioning?
Type of conditioning that involves the presentation of the NS after the presentation of the US.
What is classical conditioning?
A process in which one stimulus that does not elicit a certain response is associated with a second stimulus that does, leading to the certain response being elicited by the first stimulus.
What is the conditioned response (CR)?
The response that is elicited by the conditioned stimulus
What is the conditioned stimulus (CS)?
Any stimulus that comes to elicit a response after association with an unconditioned stimulus, despite being neutral originally.
What is delayed conditioning?
Conditioning in which the onset of the NS precedes the onset of the US and the two stimuli overlap.
What is dishabituation?
The re-appearance of a habituated response to a stimulus following the presentation of another, seemingly irrelevant novel stimulus. (e.g. a couple re-invigorating their relationship by going to a hotel for a few nights.)
What are 4 different temporal arrangements of stimuli in classical conditioning?
- Delayed
- Trace
- Simultaneous
- Backwards
What is the most effective temporal arrangement of stimuli in classical conditioning?
Delayed.
Which temporal arrangement of stimuli is almost as effective as the most effective arrangement?
Trace conditioning
Why is trace conditioning called what it is?
A memory trace is required for the organism to associate the stimuli, as the NS finishes before the onset of the US.
What is excitatory conditioning?
Conditioning where the NS is associated with the presence of a US.
What is inhibitory conditioning?
Conditioning in which the NS is associated with the absence or removal of a US.
What are fixed action patterns?
A fixed sequence of responses elicited by a specific stimulus.
What is the flexion response?
The automatic response when one reacts to an aversive stimulus, e.g. moving your hand away from an open flame.
What is the opponent process theory?
A theory suggesting that any extreme emotions are automatically counter-balanced by an opposite emotion.
Suggests two processes occur for every emotional event: a primary, ‘A process’ which is directly elicited by the event and an opponent, ‘B’ process that is elicited by the A process and attempts to counter-act it.
What is the orienting response?
The automatic positioning of an individual to facilitate attending to a stimulus
What is a reflex?
An automated and involuntary response to a stimulus
What is a reflex arc?
A neural structure that underlies many reflexes and consists of a sensory, inter and motor neuron.
What is a sign stimulus?
A specific stimulus that elicits a fixed action pattern. (same as a releaser)
What is a releaser?
A specific stimulus that elicits a fixed action pattern. (same as a sign stimulus)
What is simultaneous conditioning?
Conditioning in which the NS occurs at the same time as the US.
What is the startle response?
A defensive reaction to a sudden, unexpected stimulus, which involves automatic tightening of skeletal muscles and various hormonal and visceral changes.
What is trace conditioning?
Conditioning in which the NS occurs wholly before the US. There is no overlap between stimuli.
What is the unconditioned response (UR)?
The response that is naturally elicited by the unconditioned stimulus without any prior learning.
What is the unconditioned stimulus (US)?
A stimulus that naturally elicits a response without any prior learning.
