Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning

1. stimulus-response learning

   • perform response to stimulus in particular
     • stimulus
     • perceptual learning
       • Changes in the neural circuit that detects a particular stimulus
       • learning to identify and discriminate different types of stimuli
     • Motor Learning
       • Changes in the neural circuit that controls a particular behaviour
       • learning how to modify motor responses
     • Response
   • learning to revognise relavence of different stimuli

2. Classical Conditioning

   • association between two stimuli. previous unimportant stimulus acquires characteristics from important stimulus
   • Many stimuli prompt a response without you needing to learn what stimulus is or how to respond
   • Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)
     • Russian Psychologist
     • Stimuli and Responses
       • Unconditional stimulus
         • A stimulus producing an unconditional response
       • unconditional response
         • Automatic response to unconditional stimulus
       • Conditional stimulus (bell) alongside food
         • irrelevant stimulus repeated alongside US = conditional response
       • Conditional response (salivation)
         • Resonse that only occurred after US now happens with CS after repetition with both
     • Machaniasms of salivation in dogs
       • examined digestive system of dogs
       • served food to the dogs to make them salivate
         • The food was an unconditional stimulus
           • prompted a response from dogs without training
         • Salivation was an unconditional response
           • On seeing the food, the dogs began to salivate reflexively
       • eventually dogs salivated when people entered
   • Vladmir Bekhterev (1857-1927)

3. Extinction

   • Repeated presentation of CS without UN leads to decrease in CR

4. Spontaneous Recovery

   • After a rest, a seeimingly extinguished response may return, but not as strongly

5. Generalization

   • CR to stimuli similar, not identical to the trained, conditional stimulus

6. Pinel, condtioned taste aversion, with rats and saline

   • the development of an aversion to the taste of a foodstuff following the experience of feeling ill after consuming it