Pavlov (1927) - Classical Conditioning Flashcards
What is Classical Conditioning?
Classical conditioning is learning through association.
What is an unconditioned stimulus (UCS)
any stimulus that produces a natural, unlearnt response (e.g. food)
What is a neutral stimulus (NS)
a thing which is not associated with the unconditioned response (e.g. a bell). This can be any environmental stimulus that does not naturally produce a behavioural response
What is an unconditioned response (UCR) ?
any response that occurs naturally without learning (i.e. reflex) e.g. salivating to food
What is a condtioned stimulus (CS) ?
a new stimulus that has been associated with a UCS so that it now produces the same response on its’ own
What is a conditioned response (CR)?
behaviour elicited by the Conditioned Stimulus.
What is the aim of Pavlov’s study?
To study how the cerebral cortex works in making associations and to investigate a mechanism linking reflexes to the cerebral cortex.
What is a neutral stimulus (NS) in Pavlov’s experiment?
A stimulus that does not naturally produce a specific response.
What was the procedure Pavlov used to condition the dogs?
Pavlov paired a neutral stimulus (e.g., a metronome) with food (UCS) repeatedly.
What is the difference between an unconditioned response (UCR) and a conditioned response (CR)?
UCR is a natural, reflexive response to the UCS; CR is a learned response from a previously neutral stimulus.
How did Pavlov measure salivation in the dogs?
He attached a device that diverted the dog’s saliva to a measuring instrument.
What did Pavlov discover about the timing of the presentation of the NS/CS and UCS?
The NS/CS had to be presented before the UCS to successfully condition the dog.
What is higher-order conditioning?
When a new neutral stimulus (CS2) is paired with a conditioned stimulus (CS1) and becomes associated with the conditioned response (CR).
What is stimulus generalisation?
When a response is elicited by stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus.
What were the key findings from Pavlov’s study regarding timing and reliability of salivation?
Salivation started after 9 seconds and by 45 seconds, 11 drops were collected.
What is the correct pairing part of the classical conditioning procedure?
Neutral Stimulus then Unconditioned Stimulus
In Pavlov’s procedure, what was the conditioned response (CR)?
Salivation
What did Pavlov observe that led to his classical conditioning experiments?
Dogs salivated when they heard an assistant approaching to give them food.
What is spontaneous recovery in classical conditioning?
The reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of extinction.
What did Pavlov find about the need for the dog to be alert during conditioning?
The dog had to be alert and free from distractions for effective conditioning.
What is the significance of tightly controlled procedures in Pavlov’s study?
They ensure that the associations can be consistently reproduced.
What is the feature of classical conditioning that involves the ability to differentiate between similar stimuli?
Discrimination, allows an individual to respond only to a specific conditioned stimulus
What happens during extinction in classical conditioning?
The conditioned response gradually dies out
What is the feature of classical conditioning where a conditioned response is triggered by stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus?
Generalisation occurs when the response extends from the original stimulus to similar stimuli.
