Chapter 3: Pavlovian Conditioning

Question 1

Backward conditioning

Answer 1

A Pavlovian conditioning procedure in which the US precedes the CS. (C’. forward chaining.)

Question 2

Blocking

Answer 2

Failure of a stimulus to become a CS when it is part of a compound stimulus that includes an effective CS. The effective CS is said to block the formation of a new CS. (C’. overshadowing.)

Question 3

Classical conditioning

Answer 3

The procedure of pairing a neutral stimulus (typically referred to as the CS) with a US. Also called Pavlovian or respondent conditioning.

Question 4

Compound stimulus

Answer 4

Two or more stimuli presented simultaneously, often as a CS.

Question 5

Conditional reflex

Answer 5

A reflex acquired through Pavlovian conditioning and consisting of a conditional stimulus and a conditional response. (C’. unconditional reflex.)

Question 6

Conditional response (CR)

Answer 6

The response part of a conditional reflex; the response elicited by a conditional stimulus. Often called conditioned response.

Question 7

Conditional stimulus (CS)

Answer 7

The stimulus part of a conditional reflex; the stimulus that elicits a conditional response. Often called conditioned stimulus.

Question 8

Contiguity

Answer 8

Nearness of events in time (temporal contiguity) or space (spatial contiguity).

Question 9

Contingency

Answer 9

A dependency between events. An event may be stimulus contingent (dependent on the appearance of a stimulus) or response contingent (dependent on the appearance of a behavior).

Question 10

CS+

Answer 10

In Pavlovian discrimination training, the stimulus that is regularly paired with a US. (C’. CS.)

Question 11

CS-

Answer 11

In Pavlovian discrimination training, the stimulus that regularly appears in the absence of the US. (C’. CS+.)

Question 12

Delayed conditioning

Answer 12

A Pavlovian conditioning procedure in which the CS starts before, and then overlaps with, the US.

A Pavlovian conditioning procedure in which the CS starts before, and then overlaps with, the US.

Question 13

Extinction

Answer 13

1) In Pavlovian conditioning, the procedure of repeatedly presenting a CS without the US. (2) In operant training, the procedure of withholding the reinforcers that maintain a behavior. (C’. forgetting.)

Question 14

Higher-order conditioning

Answer 14

A variation of Pavlovian conditioning in which a stimulus is paired, not with a US, but with a well-established CS.

Question 15

Interstimulus interval (ISI)

Answer 15

The interval between the CS and US. The ISI is a measure of contiguity in Pavlovian conditioning.

Question 16

Latent inhibition

Answer 16

In Pavlovian conditioning, the failure of a CR to appear as a result of prior presentation of the CS in the absence of the US.

Question 17

Overshadowing

Answer 17

Failure of a stimulus that is part of a compound stimulus to become a CS. The stimulus is said to be overshadowed by the stimulus that does become a CS. (C’. blocking.)

Question 18

Pavlovian conditioning

Answer 18

See classical conditioning.

Question 19

Pseudoconditioning

Answer 19

The tendency of a neutral stimulus to elicit a CR when presented after a US has elicited a reflex response. Pseudocondtioning is apparently due to sensitization.

Question 20

Rescoria-Wagner model

Answer 20

A theory of Pavlovian conditioning based on the assumption that the amount of learning that can occur on a particular trial is limited by the nature of the CS and US and the amount of learning that has already occurred. It is expressed by the equation ΔVn = c (λ Vn 1).

Question 21

Respondent conditioning

Answer 21

See Pavlovian conditioning.

Question 22

Sensory preconditioning

Answer 22

A procedure in which two neutral stimuli are paired, after which one is repeatedly paired with a US. If the other stimulus is then presented alone, it may elicit a CR even though it was never paired with the US.

Question 23

Simultaneous conditioning

Answer 23

A Pavlovian conditioning procedure in which the CS and US occur together in time.

Question 24

Spontaneous recovery

Answer 24

The sudden reappearance of a behavior following its extinction.

Question 25

Stimulus-substitution theory

Answer 25

In Pavlovian conditioning, the theory that the CS substitutes for the US. Assumes that the CR is essentially the same as the UR.

Question 26

Test trial

Answer 26

In Pavlovian conditioning, the procedure of presenting the CS on some occasions without the US to determine whether learning has occurred.

Question 27

Trace conditioning

Answer 27

A Pavlovian conditioning procedure in which the CS begins and ends before the US is presented.

Question 28

Unconditional reflex

Answer 28

A synonym for reflex. An unconditional reflex consists of an unconditional stimulus and an unconditional response. (See refl ex; C’. conditional reflex.)

Question 29

Unconditional response (UR)

Answer 29

The response elicited by an unconditional stimulus. Often called an unconditioned response. (C’. conditional response.)

Question 30

Unconditional stimulus (US)

Answer 30

The stimulus that elicits an unconditional response. Often called an unconditioned stimulus. (C’. conditional stimulus.)

Question 31

Intertrial interval

Answer 31

The interval separating the trials of a discrete trial procedure.