Rescorla-Wagner Model of Conditioning Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Rescorla-Wagner model states that the strength of the CS-US association is determined by the extent to which the ___________ stimulus is unexpected.

unconditioned

It predicts the shape of learning and extinction ________.

curves

The effect of changing the CS or US ________.

intensity

In acquisition with repeated pairings of the CS and US, the probability that the CS alone will produce the CR rapidly ___________ and then levels off.

increases Signup and view all the answers

The probability of the CR is a measure of the associative strength of the _____.

CS Signup and view all the answers

The more strongly the CS is associated with the US the more likely the CS alone will elicit the ____.

CR Signup and view all the answers

The Rescorla-Wagner model predicts that during acquisition the associative strength should increase quickly at first, but more slowly later and that the associative strength should approach an __________.

asymptote Signup and view all the answers

Intensity of the US should affect the _____ and the intensity of the CS (salience) should affect the _ of conditioning.

speed Signup and view all the answers

The stronger US will produce a higher associative strength (asymptote). A weak CS will have a ________ learning curve and a strong CS will have a steeper learning curve.

slower Signup and view all the answers

In extinction if the CS is repeatedly presented without the US, the associative strength ____ quickly at first, approaching an asymptote of .

decreases Signup and view all the answers

Expectation: Respondent conditioning involves the subject learning to predict events based on the past. So when the CS is presented, the subject has an expectation about the . This expectation is the _ of the CS.

US Signup and view all the answers

Trial Outcomes: There are four things that might happen on a trial, either the subject's expectations are or the subject's expectations are different from what happens, i.e., the subject will be .

correct Signup and view all the answers

The Rescorla-Wagner model says you only get learning when your expectation is wrong.

surprised Signup and view all the answers

Surprise: The Rescorla-Wagner model assumes that learning will only take place if the subject is _________.

surprised Signup and view all the answers

Learning, or conditioning, is a process of the subject changing its ________ which seems consistent with the predictiveness principle.

expectation Signup and view all the answers

During acquisition if the subject is surprised by receiving the US when it didn't expect it, it will ________ its expectation that the US will follow the CS in future.

increase Signup and view all the answers

Here, excitatory conditioning has taken place where the associative strength of the CS increases, i.e., the CS is now _______ likely to elicit the CR.

more Signup and view all the answers

Inhibitory Conditioning: During extinction if the subject is surprised by not receiving the US when it did expect it, it will __________ its expectation that the US will follow the CS in the future.

decrease Signup and view all the answers

Here, _________ conditioning has taken place where the associative strength of the CS decreases, i.e., the CS is now less likely to elicit the CR.

inhibitory Signup and view all the answers

No Conditioning: Suppose during acquisition/extinction the subject is not surprised, it won't change its expectation. Therefore, the associative strength of the CS will stay the _______ and the probability that the CS will elicit the CR won't change.

same Signup and view all the answers

Strength of Expectation: Subjects can have strong or weak expectations about what will happen after the CS. So the model really says that excitatory conditioning will take place if the strength of the US is _________ than the strength of the subject's expectation.

greater Signup and view all the answers

Inhibitory conditioning will take place if the strength of the US is _______ than the associative strength of the CS.

less Signup and view all the answers

The magnitude of the change of the subjects' expectations will depend on how __________ the subject was.

surprised Signup and view all the answers

Maximum Associative Strength: Any US has a maximum associative strength that it can support. This will be affected by the ________ of the US.

intensity Signup and view all the answers

This maximum associative strength will determine the _________ of a learning curve of excitatory conditioning.

asymptote Signup and view all the answers

Salience of CS: One CS might be easier to condition than another CS, this will depend on their __________.

salience Signup and view all the answers

Salience relates to _______ i.e., a more intense CS will be more salient.

intensity Signup and view all the answers

Salience of the CS affects the ___________ of acquisition and extinction.

speed Signup and view all the answers

Salience can be between 0-1.

Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Rescorla-Wagner Model Overview

The strength of the conditioned stimulus (CS) and unconditioned stimulus (US) association relies on the unexpectedness of the US.
Learning and extinction follow a curve influenced by changes in the CS or US.

Acquisition Process

In repeated pairings of CS and US, the likelihood of a conditioned response (CR) significantly increases before plateauing.
The probability of CR serves as an indicator of the associative strength between CS and US.

Asymptote Concept

The model suggests that associative strength rises rapidly at first, then levels off as it approaches an asymptote—the maximum strength attainable.

Intensity and Learning Curve

The intensity of the US influences the asymptote, while the salience of the CS affects the speed of conditioning.
A stronger US leads to a higher associative strength, whereas a weak CS results in a slower learning curve.

Extinction Process

During extinction, repeated presentation of the CS without the US leads to a rapid decrease in associative strength, near a zero asymptote.

Expectation in Conditioning

Learning involves anticipating events based on prior experiences, and the degree of expectation about the US influences associative strength.

Trial Outcomes

Four possible scenarios can occur during trials:
- Expectations are met (no learning occurs).
- Unexpected events lead to learning.
Learning occurs only when there's a discrepancy between expectation and reality.

Role of Surprise

Conditioning is contingent upon the subject being surprised by unexpected outcomes.
The process of learning is defined by modifications in the subject's expectations.

Excitatory vs. Inhibitory Conditioning

In excitatory conditioning, surprise at receiving the US when it is unexpected increases the strength of the CS in eliciting the CR.
Inhibitory conditioning occurs during extinction when the absence of expected US decreases the CS's capacity to elicit the CR.

No Conditioning Scenario

If expectations remain unchanged due to lack of surprise, the associative strength of the CS stays constant, and the probability of eliciting the CR remains unchanged.

Strength of Expectation

The model delineates that excitatory conditioning is feasible when the strength of the US surpasses the expectation; inhibitory conditioning occurs when the opposite is true.

Impact of Surprise Magnitude

The extent of expectation change is directly proportional to how surprised the subject felt by the outcome.

Maximum Associative Strength

Each US has a limit to the associative strength it can achieve, influenced by its intensity, which defines the learning curve's peak in excitatory conditioning.

Salience of CS

The ease of conditioning varies according to the salience of the CS, which correlates with its intensity, thus affecting acquisition and extinction speed.
Salience values range from 0 (not salient) to 1 (very salient).

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Explore the Rescorla-Wagner model of classical conditioning through these informative flashcards. Learn about the relationships between unconditioned and conditioned stimuli, and how their associations affect learning and extinction. Perfect for psychology students focusing on conditioning theories.

Rescorla-Wagner Model of Conditioning Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Rescorla-Wagner model states that the strength of the CS-US association is determined by the extent to which the ___________ stimulus is unexpected.

It predicts the shape of learning and extinction ________.

The effect of changing the CS or US ________.

In acquisition with repeated pairings of the CS and US, the probability that the CS alone will produce the CR rapidly ___________ and then levels off.

The probability of the CR is a measure of the associative strength of the _____.

The more strongly the CS is associated with the US the more likely the CS alone will elicit the ____.

The Rescorla-Wagner model predicts that during acquisition the associative strength should increase quickly at first, but more slowly later and that the associative strength should approach an __________.

Intensity of the US should affect the ___________ and the intensity of the CS (salience) should affect the _______ of conditioning.

The stronger US will produce a higher associative strength (asymptote). A weak CS will have a ________ learning curve and a strong CS will have a steeper learning curve.

In extinction if the CS is repeatedly presented without the US, the associative strength __________ quickly at first, approaching an asymptote of ______.

Expectation: Respondent conditioning involves the subject learning to predict events based on the past. So when the CS is presented, the subject has an expectation about the ____. This expectation is the __________ _______ of the CS.

Trial Outcomes: There are four things that might happen on a trial, either the subject's expectations are ________ or the subject's expectations are different from what happens, i.e., the subject will be ________.

The Rescorla-Wagner model says you only get learning when your expectation is wrong.

Surprise: The Rescorla-Wagner model assumes that learning will only take place if the subject is _________.

Learning, or conditioning, is a process of the subject changing its ________ which seems consistent with the predictiveness principle.

During acquisition if the subject is surprised by receiving the US when it didn't expect it, it will ________ its expectation that the US will follow the CS in future.

Here, excitatory conditioning has taken place where the associative strength of the CS increases, i.e., the CS is now _______ likely to elicit the CR.

Inhibitory Conditioning: During extinction if the subject is surprised by not receiving the US when it did expect it, it will __________ its expectation that the US will follow the CS in the future.

Here, _________ conditioning has taken place where the associative strength of the CS decreases, i.e., the CS is now less likely to elicit the CR.

No Conditioning: Suppose during acquisition/extinction the subject is not surprised, it won't change its expectation. Therefore, the associative strength of the CS will stay the _______ and the probability that the CS will elicit the CR won't change.

Strength of Expectation: Subjects can have strong or weak expectations about what will happen after the CS. So the model really says that excitatory conditioning will take place if the strength of the US is _________ than the strength of the subject's expectation.

Inhibitory conditioning will take place if the strength of the US is _______ than the associative strength of the CS.

The magnitude of the change of the subjects' expectations will depend on how __________ the subject was.

Maximum Associative Strength: Any US has a maximum associative strength that it can support. This will be affected by the ________ of the US.

This maximum associative strength will determine the _________ of a learning curve of excitatory conditioning.

Salience of CS: One CS might be easier to condition than another CS, this will depend on their __________.

Salience relates to _______ i.e., a more intense CS will be more salient.

Salience of the CS affects the ___________ of acquisition and extinction.

Salience can be between 0-1.

Study Notes

Rescorla-Wagner Model Overview

Acquisition Process

Asymptote Concept

Intensity and Learning Curve

Extinction Process

Expectation in Conditioning

Trial Outcomes

Role of Surprise

Excitatory vs. Inhibitory Conditioning

No Conditioning Scenario

Strength of Expectation

Impact of Surprise Magnitude

Maximum Associative Strength

Salience of CS

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Description

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Associative Learning Theories: Rescorla-Wagner Model

Intensity of the US should affect the _____ and the intensity of the CS (salience) should affect the _ of conditioning.

In extinction if the CS is repeatedly presented without the US, the associative strength ____ quickly at first, approaching an asymptote of .

Expectation: Respondent conditioning involves the subject learning to predict events based on the past. So when the CS is presented, the subject has an expectation about the . This expectation is the _ of the CS.

Trial Outcomes: There are four things that might happen on a trial, either the subject's expectations are or the subject's expectations are different from what happens, i.e., the subject will be .