Classical Conditioning Flashcards
What is Phylogenetic behaviour?
An environment-behaviour relation which is predominantly rooted the genetic history of a species. Thus, is an unlearnt behavioural response to an environmental feature that aids in a species reproductive success. E.g reflexes.
what are fixed-action patterns? (FAP)
A series of movements or behaviours that’s sequence is structured by their phylogenetic origin. E.G animals aggression sequence to threat during mating season.
What triggers a (FAP) fixed-action pattern?
A “releasing” stimuli. I.e environmental stimuli with behaviour relation due to its phylogenetic properties.
what happens when a fixed action pattern is triggered?
It is followed to completion regardless of whether or not there are changes in the environment that remove the releasing stimuli.
WHat are (4) aspects of FAP’s?
- Requires a “releasing stimuli” to trigger sequence.
- Once triggered sequence is completed regardless of environmental changes.
- Very stereotypical behaviour patterns emerg with low variability within species i.e. all males will show the same sequence of behaviour to same stimuli and vise versa with females.
- Fixed Action Pattern (FAP) is an interchangeable term with Model Action Model (MAP)
What are reaction chains?
Reaction chains are similar to FAP’s but have a distinctive quality.
- Reaction chains can be disrupted is the triggering stimuli is removed or not appropriate.
- An appropriate stimulus is required for each section of the sequence chain.
- Thus, chain can start at any point in the chain.
- Example, SEXUAL Selection in the courtship ritual.
What is the law of threshold?
1 of 3 primary laws of reflex, where,
The US (Stimuli) must meet or exceed a critical value (the threshold) in order to reliably produce the UR (reflex). I.e more than 50% chance US will cause UR.
What are the (3) primary laws of reflex?
Includes: (1) the law of the threshold, (2) the law of intensity-magnitude and (3) the law of latency. These laws govern the unconditioned stimulus- unconditioned response relationship.
What is the Law of Magnitude?
2 of 3 primary laws of reflex:
Where the intensity of the US directly impacts the UR. I.e. the larger the US the stronger the UR.
What is the law of latency?
The 3 of 3 primary laws of reflex:
Typically, the larger the US the shorter time elapsed (latency) between presentation of the US and the UR.
i.e as the intensity of the US increases the latency between the US and UR decreases and vice versa.
What is a secondary property of reflexive behaviour?
- Habituation:
IS UNIQUE TO REFLEXIVE BEHAVIOUR
in terms of CC habituation refers to the decrease in a response rate of UR caused by the repeated presentation of the US.
e.g. startle responses to loud stimuli
What are the limitations of Habituation?
- decreases in RR occur rapidly then slowly until 0 RR is reached.
- If US presentation is withheld for an extensive period of time then habituation effects can be null due to spontaneous recovery.
- when multiple habituation trials occur the rate in which habituation is reached increases across time with repeated US exposure.
what is the difference between ontogenetic behaviour and phylogenetic behaviour?
Phylogenetic behaviour refers to behaviour-environment relations gained through evolution & looks at the species as a whole. Whereas, ontogenetic looks at the development of an individual, and how the experience with the environment guides those behaviour-environment relations.
What is respondent conditioning?
Pavlovian or CC conditioning where there is a transfer of behaviour control from reflexive behaviour to a once netural stimulus. The control is transferred from US to a CS using a stimulus-stimulus method of associative learning.
What is conditioned taste aversion?
where the pairing of a flavour (cs) and a drug (us) which induces sickness i.e. nausea (UR). Causes the subject to avoid the conditioned taste due to its association to sickness. This effect occurs regardless, of whether or not the subject is aware that the CS is not the direct cause and can be conditioned in 1 trial.
What is a conditioned place preference?
where the pairing of a CS in a distinct environment causes the subject to associate that environment and the US. Depending on the US and UR association the environment can have a preference or aversive aspect.
What is an asymptote?
The maximum associative strength a CS can have:
- directly linked to the associative strength of the US has it can not exceed it.
- Once asymptote is reached any additional CS has no effect on CR because there is no more to learn.
inhibition theory of explaining sponateus recovery?
- US CS association is formed
- Extinction trail- where CS is presented without the US and CR gradually declines to null.
- We see spontaneous recovery, CR response occurs after extinction trail.
WHY? because the initial cs-us excitatory association is competing with the later cs-us inhibitory association. However, over time, inhibitory associations get weaker and eventually have null-effect.
inhibition theory of explaining spontaneous recovery?
- US CS association is formed
- Extinction trail- where CS is presented without the US and CR gradually declines to null.
- We see spontaneous recovery, CR response occurs after extinction trail.
WHY? because the initial cs+us excitatory association is competing with the later cs-us inhibitory association. However, over time, inhibitory associations get weaker and eventually have null-effect.
what are excitatory and inhibitory. conditioned stimuli?
Excitroty refers to any conditioned stimuli which increase the effect of the CR. In contrast, any CS that reduces the effects of the CR is called inhibitory conditioned stimuli.
Respondant Discrimination
Responses are conditioned to only occur for one stimulus. I.e once conditioned the CS-CR association does not obey the same primary reflex laws as the US-UR relation.
This is evident in studies which found any change to the CS characteristics would decrease the strength of the CR. I.e unable to generalise and is instead respondent discriminatory.
what is respondant (CC) extincition?
when cs is presented without us and CR rates reduce to null. Is a method used to identify if S-S association or S-sR pathway is used.