Classical Conditioning Overview

Classical Conditioning

• Conditioned Stimulus (CS): A previously neutral stimulus, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, triggers a conditioned response. (e.g., a bell in Pavlov's experiment).
• Unconditioned Stimulus (US): A stimulus that naturally triggers a response without prior conditioning. (e.g., food in Pavlov's experiment).
• Conditioned Response (CR): The learned response to the previously neutral stimulus. (e.g., salivation in response to a bell, after learning it signals food).
• Stimulus Generalization: Responding similarly to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus. (e.g., being afraid of all dogs after being bitten by one).
• Stimulus Discrimination: Learning to respond differently to similar stimuli. (e.g., a dog salivating only to a specific bell sound, not other sounds).
• Conditioned Tolerance: Reduced response to a drug when it is taken in the presence of cues associated with drug use. (Requiring more of a drug when taken in the environment where the person usually takes it).
• Systematic Desensitization: A therapeutic technique that involves gradual exposure to a feared stimulus while practicing relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety.

Operant Conditioning

• Positive Punishment: Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior. (e.g., getting a speeding ticket for speeding).
• Negative Reinforcement: Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior. (e.g., fastening a seatbelt to stop the annoying beeping in a car).
• Positive Reinforcement: Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase a behavior. (e.g., giving a dog a treat for sitting).
• Negative Punishment: Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior. (e.g., taking away a toy when a child misbehaves).

Neural Structures

• Sensory Neurons: Transmit sensory information from the skin, ears, eyes to the CNS.
• Motor Neurons: Send signals from the CNS to muscles, enabling movement.
• Interneurons: Facilitate communication within the CNS, connecting sensory and motor neurons.
• Relay Neurons: Transmit signals between different parts of the nervous system, helping coordinate responses.

Brain Regions

• Temporal Lobe: Responsible for auditory processing, memory formation, and language comprehension.
• Frontal Lobe: Involved in decision-making, planning, and voluntary movement coordination.
• Occipital Lobe: Specializes in visual processing and interpreting visual stimuli.
• Parietal Lobe: Integrates sensory information (touch, temperature, pain) & spatial awareness and navigation.
• Thalamus: Acts as a sensory relay station, processing and transmitting sensory information to the cerebral cortex.
• Hypothalamus: Regulates homeostasis, including hunger, thirst, temperature, and emotional responses.
• Medulla Oblongata: Controls vital autonomic functions (breathing, heart rate, blood pressure).
• Cerebral Cortex: Responsible for higher cognitive processes (thought, reasoning, voluntary actions).

Language Areas

• Broca's Area: Located in the left frontal lobe, responsible for speech production. Damage leads to Broca's aphasia.
• Wernicke's Area: Located in the left temporal lobe, involved in language comprehension. Damage leads to Wernicke's aphasia.

Theories of Sleep

• Deprivation Theory: Sleep deprivation impairs cognitive and physical health.
• Adaptive Theory: Sleep evolved as a survival mechanism to protect from predators and conserve energy.
• Immunology Theory: Sleep enhances immune function, and promotes healthy resilience.
• Restorative Theory: Sleep is crucial for the body to repair and rejuvenate from daily activities.

Sleep Disorders

• Narcolepsy: Episodes of uncontrollable sleep, often with cataplexy (loss of muscle tone).
• Sleep Apnea: Breathing interruptions during sleep.
• Epilepsy: Neurological disorder causing seizures.
• Hypnagogic Hallucinations: Vivid images or sensations during the transition from wakefulness to sleep.
• Paradoxical Sleep (REM): Active brain, but muscles paralyzed; dreams occur here.
• Restorative Sleep (NREM): Crucial for physical recovery and memory consolidation.

Psychology Basics

• Levels of Analysis:
  • Brain: Biological and neurological processes.
  • Person: Individual behaviour, thoughts, mental processes.
  • Group: Interpersonal interactions, relationships, dynamics.
  • Culture: Social norms, values, beliefs, their impact on behaviour.
• Goals of Psychology:
  • Describe: Observe and document behavior, noting specific details.
  • Explain: Understand and identify the causes of observed behaviour.
  • Predict: Anticipate future behaviour.
  • Control: Influence or change behavior.
• Hypotheses:
  • Null Hypothesis: Assumes no effect or relationship.
  • Alternative Hypothesis: Predicts an effect or relationship.

Operational Definitions

• Specify variables clearly and precisely, using measurable terms. (Crucial for research clarity).

Variables

• Identified Variables: Key aspects being studied.
• Continuous Variables: Measured on a continuum (e.g., age).
• Dependent Variables: Outcomes affected by changes.
• Qualitative Variables: Non-numerical descriptions (e.g., emotions).
• Quantitative Variables: Numerical data (e.g., test scores).

Freud's Components

• Id: Instincts, pleasure principle.
• Ego: Reality principle, balancing Id & social constraints.
• Superego: Morality, ethical standards.

Archetypes & Personality Tests

• Jung Archetypes: Universal, symbolic representations in the collective unconscious.
• Rorschach Inkblot Test: Participants describe inkblots; reveals unconscious thoughts.
• Thematic Apperception Test (TAT): Participants create stories about ambiguous pictures; reveals motivations & emotions.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

• Comprehensive questionnaire assessing psychological traits and disorders.

OCEAN (Big Five Personality Traits)

• Measures five key personality traits (Openness, Conscientiousness/Conscientious, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism).

Test your understanding of classical conditioning concepts such as conditioned and unconditioned stimuli, conditioned responses, stimulus generalization, and discrimination. This quiz covers key aspects and examples from Pavlov's experiments. Challenge yourself to see how well you grasp the principles of learning and behavior.