Pavlovian Conditioning Flashcards
backward conditioning
behavior conditioning method where the US is presented before an NS (not effective)
blocking
where prior experience w/ part of a compound stimulus makes learning a compound stimulus difficult- was paired w/ US prior to compound
classical conditioning
US -> UR
NS + US -> UR
CS -> CR
compensatory response theory
where a conditional response prepares the animal for the unconditional stimulus by compensating for its effects- example of rats overdosing in novel environments
compound stimulus
a conditional stimulus where has two or more stimuli (light & tone)
conditional reflex
a reflex acquired through experience, relatively impermanent
conditional response (CR)
behavior evoked by a conditional stimulus
conditional stimulus (CS)
previously neutral stimulus that is associated w/ a US to eventually elicit the response itself
contiguity
refers to closeness in time or space between two events
contingency
if-then statement explaining that “x only occurs if y occurs”; x is contingent upon y
delay conditioning
when the CS and US overlap
extinction
procedure of repeatedly presenting the CS alone (no US)- the CR is extinguished
higher-order conditioning
procedure of pairing a neutral stimulus with a well-established conditional stimulus
interstimulus interval (ISI)
refers to interval between CS and US
intertrial interval
gap between successive trials, which affects rate of conditioning
preparatory response theory
theory that the UR is an innate response designed to deal w/ a US, but the CR is a response designed to prepare for US
latent inhibition
phenomenon where the appearance of a stimulus without the US interferes with the ability of that stimulus to become a CS later (playing metronome to dogs with no presentation of the meat)
overshadowing
phenomenon where one stimulus overshadows another, and the overshadowed stimulus does not go unnoticed, but interferes w/ its ability to become a CS (weak light, strong tone)
pseudoconditioning
a phenomenon where the tendency of a neutral stimulus is to elicit a conditional response after a US has elicited a reflex response
rescorla-wagner model
argues there is a limit to the amount of conditioning that can occur in the pairing of two stimuli
sensory preconditioning
phenomenon where a stimulus elicits a conditional response even though it has never been paired with the US
simultaneous recovery
the reappearance of a conditional response after extinction
stimulus substitution theory
theory that the conditional stimulus merely substitutes for the unconditional stimulus in evoking the reflex response
test trial
involves presenting the CS alone periodically, a way to test for conditioning in situations where the CS onset and the appearance of the US is very short
trace conditioning
when the CS begins and ends before the US appears; CS leaves neutral trace
unconditional reflex
reflexes that are largely inborn and permanent; occur more or less unconditionally
unconditional response (UR)
behavior a US triggers
unconditional stimulus (US)
stimulus that unconditionally, naturally, and automatically triggers a response
