Pavlov (1927) Experiment

Question 1

What was the aim of the study?

Answer 1

• To study how the cerebral cortex works in making associations and to look for a mechanism linking reflexes to cerebral cortex.

Question 2

What was the procedure of the study?

Answer 2

• The dogs were restrained in a harness in the cubicle and isolated from all distractions
• an experimenter observed the dog through a one way mirror and by a remote control, presented the dog with food.
• A tube carried the saliva from the dog’s mouth to a container where it was measured
• windows of the room were covered with extra thick sheets of glass, there were double steel doors which sealed when closed
• a deep moat filled with straw encircled the building
• vibrations and noise were eliminated
• dog was isolated in a small room
• from an adjacent room, they could present food - first by sliding in a good bowl, later by blowing meat powder into the dog’s mount
• pavlov used a variety of neutral stimuli including a metronome, bell, buzzer
• just before putting the food in the dog’s mouth the produce salivation, pavolov sounded a metronome
• after several pairings, the dog began salivating to the metronome alone

Question 3

What were the results of the study?

Answer 3

• found that the dog had to be alert and no other stimuli present to distract or affect the acquired learning
• found that dogs showed stimulus generational to sounds of a similar sound

Question 4

What did pavlov conclude?

Answer 4

• Pavlov concluded that it is ‘signalisation’ in the brain that links the metronome to food and thus gives the reflex response of salivation