Pavlovian learning & conditioning

Question 1

What is associative learning and an example of it?

Answer 1

Learning is about something being associated with something else e.g. Pavlovian learning/classical conditioning

Question 2

Is the CR always the same as the UR?

Answer 2

No, sometimes they are the same kind of response but still differ

Question 3

Describe the rats conditional responses to insulin injections

Answer 3

Rat injected with insulin (US), hypoglycaemia (UR). Injection repeated a number of times. Rat acquires CR (hyperglycaemia) which is opposite of UR (hypoglycaemia) CS = stimulus associated with being injected

Question 4

What is the difference between hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia?

Answer 4

Hypoglycaemia = decrease in blood glucose, hyperglycaemia = increase in blood glucose

Question 5

Pavlovian learning leads to what and differs from what?

Answer 5

Leads to acquisition of new reflexes, differs from habituation and sensitisation

Question 6

Define unconditional stimulus

Answer 6

A stimulus that elicits a particular behavioural response without training

Question 7

Define unconditional response

Answer 7

Response elicited by the US

Question 8

Explain Pavlov’s dogs classical conditioning study

Answer 8

Measured saliva produced by dogs in response to food. Bell rung first and food paired, repeated together several times, UR

Question 9

Explain before during and after in terms of stimuli and responses

Answer 9

Before, US elicits UR, during US + CS elicits UR, after CS elicits CR

Question 10

Why is CS-US pairing not necessary?

Answer 10

If pairing is necessary, there can be no situations in which a CR is acquired when CS/US aren’t paired.

Question 11

What is the consequence for the CR when there is an appetitive CS?

Answer 11

CR avoids location of CS

Question 12

What will a CR do when the CS is aversive?

Answer 12

CR will approach the location of the CS

Question 13

Explain delay conditioning

Answer 13

Stimulus persists longer. CS precedes US,

Question 14

Define delay interval

Answer 14

Period of time between start of conditional and unconditional

Question 15

Describe simultaneous conditioning

Answer 15

Training procedure that presents CS & US at the same time

Question 16

What is trace conditioning?

Answer 16

Time between stimulus being presented and interval

Question 17

How can backward conditioning be described?

Answer 17

US before CS, can have forward or backward versions in trace and delay conditioning.

Question 18

What does whether the CR and UR are the same depend on?

Answer 18

Depends on whether the UR is effective at preparing the animal for the US. If not then CR is different from UR

Question 19

Describe inhibitory conditioning

Answer 19

US is presented only if CS is not presented

Question 20

What is the US and UR in eye-blink conditioning?

Answer 20

US = air puff to eye, UR = blink

Question 21

Which types of conditioning were and were not effective in eye-blink conditioning?

Answer 21

Simultaneous conditioning, short delays and backwards conditioning are ineffective. Positive forward delays are more effective, but ineffective after 5 secs, trace ineffective after 2 secs

Question 22

What do eye-blink CR’s show?

Answer 22

Show temporal anticipation

Question 23

What is simultaneous conditioning?

Answer 23

CS & US are presented at the same time for the same period

Question 24

Define temporal contiguity

Answer 24

CS and US occur close together in time. Closer = learning better

Question 25

Which 2 types of conditioning rarely lead to CR acquisition?

Answer 25

Backwards conditioning and simultaneous conditioning

Question 26

Name the 3 reasons why pavlovian learning is useful

Answer 26

Prediction, anticipation and preparation

Question 27

Explain the blocking effect

Answer 27

CS-A paired with US, produces CR, CR’s produced in response to CS-A, but not CS-B. CS-A blocks acquisition of CR to CS-B

Question 28

Describe the CS pre-exposure effect

Answer 28

Pre-exposing animals to CS that will be used in conditioning. May not acquire CR to familiar CS

Question 29

Define higher order conditioning

Answer 29

Conditioning that employs an acquired behaviour rather than an innate one

Question 30

Explain the 2 stages of higher order conditioning

Answer 30

Normal conditioning with innate stimulus, conditional behaviour acquired senses as pre-existing behaviour in this stage