Pavlovian Conditioning Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is Pavlovian conditioning?

It is also known as Classical Conditioning and is a Stimulus-to-Stimulus Learning. It is one of 2 types of associative learning. The other is operant conditioning.

What are Pavlov's 2 types of reflexes?

Conditioned reflexes

Learned reflexes

Psychic reflexes (correct)

Physiological reflexes (correct)

What are physiological reflexes?

Invariable reflexes shown by all animals of a different species, intrinsic to the innate organization of the nervous system.

What are psychic or conditioned reflexes?

Reflexes that result from a particular experience and are learned. Signup and view all the answers

What is an Unconditioned Stimulus (US)?

A biologically relevant stimulus that evokes a response in the absence of conditioning. Signup and view all the answers

What is an Unconditioned Response (UR)?

An unlearned response elicited by the Unconditioned Stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Conditioned Stimulus (CS)?

A neutral stimulus that, after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to evoke a conditioned response. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Conditioned Response (CR)?

A response evoked by the conditioned stimulus after learning. Signup and view all the answers

What is a trial in Pavlovian conditioning?

A single pairing of the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

In Pavlov's dog experiment, the US is , the UR is , the CS is , and the CR is .

food, salivation, tone, salivation Signup and view all the answers

In the McDonalds example of Pavlovian conditioning, the US is , the UR is , the CS is , and the CR is .

burger, salivation, McD sign after conditioning, salivation Signup and view all the answers

What are the two basic requirements for a stimulus to function as a Conditioned Stimulus?

It is initially neutral Signup and view all the answers

What are the two differences between the Conditioned Response (CR) and the Unconditioned Response (UR)?

The CR may be of smaller magnitude than the UR Signup and view all the answers

Explain the S and R in the Rabbit Nictitating Membrane Experiment.

US: puff of air to the eye; UR: blink/closing of the nictitating membrane; NS then CS: tone (after pairing); CR: eyelid closure. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 3 different stages of Pavlovian Conditioning?

Acquisition Signup and view all the answers

What happens in stage 1: Habituation?

The Conditioned Stimulus is presented alone before conditioning begins, resulting in a decrease in mean heart rate over trials. Signup and view all the answers

What happens in stage 2: Acquisition?

This stage involves learning, where the CS and US are paired, increasing the mean change in heart rate as trials increase. Signup and view all the answers

What happens in stage 3: Extinction?

The Conditioned Stimulus is presented repeatedly without the Unconditioned Stimulus, causing the conditioned response to diminish. Signup and view all the answers

What is re-acquisition?

The re-pairing of the CS and the US after extinction. Signup and view all the answers

What is spontaneous recovery?

After re-acquisition, the conditioned response comes back and the association is relearned. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Overview of Pavlovian Conditioning

Also referred to as Classical Conditioning; a type of Stimulus-to-Stimulus Learning.
One of two associative learning types; the other being operant conditioning.

Types of Reflexes

Physiological Reflexes: Innate, universal across different species, intrinsic to the nervous system.
Psychic or Conditioned Reflexes: Learned responses developed through individual experiences.

Physiological Reflexes

Govern gastric secretion patterns; certain foods trigger specific salivary responses (e.g., thick saliva for food, watery saliva for acid).

Psychic or Conditioned Reflexes

Develop from personal experiences and are specific to individuals.

Key Terms in Conditioning

Unconditioned Stimulus (US): Stimulus that naturally elicits a response without prior conditioning (e.g., food).
Unconditioned Response (UR): Natural, unlearned reaction to the US (e.g., salivation).
Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Initially neutral stimulus that eventually elicits a response through pairing (e.g., tone).
Conditioned Response (CR): The learned response triggered by the CS after conditioning.

Conditioning Process

A trial consists of a single pairing of CS and US.
Pavlov's experiment used food (US) to elicit salivation (UR) after pairing with a tone (CS), resulting in salivation (CR).

Real-World Applications

McDonald's Example:
- US is the burger, UR is salivation, CS is the McDonald's sign post-conditioning, leading to CR of salivation.

Requirements for Conditioned Stimulus

Must be perceptible or attendable by the subject.
Initially neutral with no biological relevance.

Differences Between CR and UR

CR occurs before UR;
CR may be smaller in magnitude compared to UR.

Rabbit Nictitating Membrane Experiment

US: Air puff to the eye
UR: Blink/closing of the membrane
CS (after pairing): Tone leads to CR (eyelid closure).

Stages of Pavlovian Conditioning

Habituation: CS presented alone prior to conditioning can decrease mean heart rate.
Acquisition: CS and US paired, which increases mean heart rate over trials.
Extinction: CS presented repeatedly without US leads to diminished CR; not forgetting but reduced association.

Re-Acquisition and Spontaneous Recovery

Re-Acquisition: Re-pairing of the CS and US after extinction.
Spontaneous Recovery: CR returns after re-acquisition, with faster learning observed.

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Description

This quiz covers the fundamentals of Pavlovian conditioning, also known as classical conditioning. Review key concepts such as the types of reflexes identified by Pavlov and the principles of associative learning. Perfect for students studying psychology or behavioral science.