Classical Conditioning

Question 1

acquisition

Answer 1

acquiring + strengthening a conditioned response through repeated pairing of a NS with US

proceeds rapidly then levels off

Question 2

Acquisition Curve

Answer 2

The maximum amount of conditioning (around 13 trials)

Question 3

Factors that influence the curve:

Answer 3

The intensity of the US: more intense = more rapid conditioning, especially if aversive (ex: an extreme bite)

The intensity of the NS: a louder metronome, or a bite from a big dog vs. small dog

Question 4

extinction

Answer 4

weakening or elimination of the CR when the CS is presented a lot in the absence of the US
- not forgetting but learning something new about the CS
- CR decreases in strength so becomes NS again (‘NS’)
- there could still be trace memory - remember shortly after

Question 5

Spontaneous Recovery

Answer 5

the reappearance of a CR following a rest after extinction
- weaker and can be extinguished again more easily
- ex: feeling anxious on a first date, feeling better but then feeling nervous again for the second date (but less)

Question 6

Disinhibition

Answer 6

sudden recovery of a response during an extinction period when a NEW stimulus is introduced
ex: presenting a humming noise that produces salivation or someone walking in during a presentation and anxiety starts again

Question 7

Stimulus Generalization

Answer 7

CR occurs in the presence of a stimulus similar to the CS

can increase overtime

Question 8

Stimulus Discrimination

Answer 8

for a response to occur to one stimulus more than another

ex: 2000Hz(food) bell vs a 1900Hz(no food) bell

Question 9

Fear discrimination + generalization

Answer 9

recent fear memories (1 day) - the rat will be able to discriminate between stimuli

older fear memories (1 month) the rat will generalize between contexts

Question 10

Development of Phobia

Answer 10

overgeneralization of a fear response to a CS -> phobic response

strong emotion memory attached with CS

repeated exposure if required to reduce the fear

Question 11

What are the 2 extensions to Classical Conditioning

Answer 11

1. higher order
   2: sensory preconditioning

Question 12

Higher order conditioning

Answer 12

Stimulus associated with CS can become CS Ex: trash can and wasps

wasp (NS1): sting (US) -> Fear (UR
wasp (CS1) -> Fear (CR)

But now:
trash (NS2): wasp (CS1) -> Fear (CR)
trash (CS2) -> Fear (CR)

Question 13

Sensory preconditioning

Answer 13

a stimulus previously associated with CS becomes CS Ex: A shed and wasps

Shed (NS2) : Wasp (NS1)

Then:
wasp (NS1): sting (US) -> Fear (UR
wasp (CS1) -> Fear (CR)

Then:
Shed (CS2) -> Fear (CR)

good if simultaneous and few pairing before

Question 14

3 types of specificity

Answer 14

overshadowing, blocking, latent inhibition

Question 15

Overshadowing

Answer 15

more salient stimulus is readilt conditioned to a CS

ex: a bright light vs. faint metronome

whatever is closest vs. far (memory decay)

Question 16

Blocking

Answer 16

the presence of an established CS interferes with the conditioning of second one

Ex: if a bright light is already CS then the metronome will be NS and stay like that (wont elicit a response)

Question 17

Latent Inhibition

Answer 17

A fmiliar stimulus will be more difficult to condition than a novel one

ex: if a dog already heard a metronome before… it wont become conditioned to slivate easily
ex: habituation

prevents memory overload - only choose whats most salient