Exam 4 Flashcards
Classical conditioning
Transfer of reflexive behavior to a new stimulus. Also known as ‘associative learning.’ Dealing mostly with the behavior of organs.
Reflex
Review
The process of classical conditioning
- Start with a basic reflex (light as US, pupil dilation as UR).
- Precede reflex with a neutral stimulus (NS) that does not naturally cause a UR.
- Many pairings
- NS must precede US
- NS starts to elicit a conditioned response without the presentation of the US. Once this happens, the NS becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS). The response to the CS becomes the conditioned response (CR).
US
Any stimulus that innately causes a response.
UR
Any innate, reflexive response to a US.
Are the CR and UR the same?
Almost. The CR is physically similar but not functionally.
What is a plausible learning history for someone with a foot fetish?
Classical conditioning
Taste aversions
Nausea or disgust (GI malaise) to a taste, flavor or smell that is abnormal to loathe.
Why is taste aversion a special type of conditioning.
- Can require only one trial. This might be because it’s more important for our survival.
- There can be a delay between the CSs and US.
Nocturnal enuresis and its treatment
Bedwetting during sleep. Bell-and-pad method. Any water in bed, a bell is activated which should trigger a bathroom trip.
Counter-conditioning
Pair the CS with an incompatible US. E.g., pair alcohol with sickness, a fetish with a shock, etc.
Appetitive counter-conditioning
?
What does the timing of the CS and US need to be?
The NS needs to precede or predict the US.
Delayed conditioning
CS precedes the US by seconds.
Trace conditioning
Gap between CS and US is much larger than with delayed conditioning. Only a “trace” amount of conditioning occurs.
Simultaneous conditioning
CS and US occur at the same time. Very little conditioning occurs.
Backward conditioning
US precedes CS. Little, if any, conditioning.
Generalization
Once CS is established, a CR my occur to other physically similar stimuli.
Discrimination
When a CR occurs towards on stimulus but not another.
CS+
A “positive trial” where a CS is paired with the US.
CS-
A “negative trial” where a different CS similar to a positively paired CS but without the US.
Discrimination process
CS+ and CS- trials.
Second-order conditioning
A CS is paired with another CS and is able to trigger the CR. Ex: Backyard associated with fireworks (US). Dog becomes associated with a backyard.
Superstitious behavior (in the context of classical conditioning)
Worrying leads to nothing bad happening. Worrying is partially automatic. But where is the CS?
What two processes are involved in a reflex?
Activation and deactivation (due to homeostasis)
Opponent process theory
Deactivation can be viewed as an inhibitory process. It gets stronger after time.
Coolidge Effect
It is a conditioned compensatory response
- Initially the mere sight of the other arouses (‘a’ process)
- ‘b’ process brings you back down
- After time, the ‘b’ process gets stronger and eventually causes one to have a negative response.
Contexted induced drug tolerance
- A drug user begins to associate a context with getting high. The context itself can trigger the high (?)
- But after many times, the context becomes neutral.
Can the ‘b’ process be conditioned?
Yes, think something that triggers suppression (in anticipation of arousal).
What does multiple part CS depend on to work?
- The manner in which the parts are presented w.r.t. eachother
- The manner in which the parts are presented w.r.t. the US.
Overshadowing
If a compound stimulus has a particularly salient aspect, that aspect will be most closely tied to the US.
Blocking
A second order CS will be seen as redundant and will be ignored.
