operant conditioning and stimulus control

Question 1

Stimulus control

Answer 1

By establishing associations between external stimuli and responses/ behaviour is more likey to occur in the presence if a particular stimulus due to reinforment history

Question 2

Operant conditioning

Answer 2

Learning process where behavour is modified through reinforcement or punishment (Skinner, 1938)

Question 3

stimulus control

Answer 3

Physiological responses such as heart rate and brain activity are behaviours that can be controlled using stimuli. Using biofeedback and neurofeedback techniques

Question 4

Biofeedback

Answer 4

Techniques like biofeedback use the principles of Skinner’s operant conditioning to modify physiological responses, these techniques demonstrate that behaviours can be modified through operant conditioning (reinforcement)

Question 5

Limitations of techniques of modifying physiological responses

Answer 5

Generalization of neurofeedback research is difficult due to different types of traumatic brain injuries, requiring specific, personalised interventions/ not all physiological symptoms (responses) can be brought under stimulus control because of complexity of physiological symptoms

Question 6

Applications of techniques: biofeedback and neurofeedback

Answer 6

Biofeedback in ADHD: by regulating brain activity, adhd symptoms such as shortened attention span or impulsive behaviour can be modified (Arns et al., 2014)
Stress reduction: meta analysis in Anger et al., (2014) study demonstrated effectiveness of biofeedback in treating psychological disorders