Classical Conditioning

Question 1

What is Phylogenetic behaviour?

Answer 1

An environment-behaviour relation which is predominantly rooted the genetic history of a species. Thus, is an unlearnt behavioural response to an environmental feature that aids in a species reproductive success. E.g reflexes.

Question 2

what are fixed-action patterns? (FAP)

Answer 2

A series of movements or behaviours that’s sequence is structured by their phylogenetic origin. E.G animals aggression sequence to threat during mating season.

Question 3

What triggers a (FAP) fixed-action pattern?

Answer 3

A “releasing” stimuli. I.e environmental stimuli with behaviour relation due to its phylogenetic properties.

Question 4

what happens when a fixed action pattern is triggered?

Answer 4

It is followed to completion regardless of whether or not there are changes in the environment that remove the releasing stimuli.

Question 5

WHat are (4) aspects of FAP’s?

Answer 5

1. Requires a “releasing stimuli” to trigger sequence.
2. Once triggered sequence is completed regardless of environmental changes.
3. Very stereotypical behaviour patterns emerg with low variability within species i.e. all males will show the same sequence of behaviour to same stimuli and vise versa with females.
4. Fixed Action Pattern (FAP) is an interchangeable term with Model Action Model (MAP)

Question 6

What are reaction chains?

Answer 6

Reaction chains are similar to FAP’s but have a distinctive quality.

1. Reaction chains can be disrupted is the triggering stimuli is removed or not appropriate.
2. An appropriate stimulus is required for each section of the sequence chain.
3. Thus, chain can start at any point in the chain.
4. Example, SEXUAL Selection in the courtship ritual.

Question 7

What is the law of threshold?

Answer 7

1 of 3 primary laws of reflex, where,

The US (Stimuli) must meet or exceed a critical value (the threshold) in order to reliably produce the UR (reflex). I.e more than 50% chance US will cause UR.

Question 8

What are the (3) primary laws of reflex?

Answer 8

Includes: (1) the law of the threshold, (2) the law of intensity-magnitude and (3) the law of latency. These laws govern the unconditioned stimulus- unconditioned response relationship.

Question 9

What is the Law of Magnitude?

Answer 9

2 of 3 primary laws of reflex:

Where the intensity of the US directly impacts the UR. I.e. the larger the US the stronger the UR.

Question 10

What is the law of latency?

Answer 10

The 3 of 3 primary laws of reflex:
Typically, the larger the US the shorter time elapsed (latency) between presentation of the US and the UR.
i.e as the intensity of the US increases the latency between the US and UR decreases and vice versa.

Question 11

What is a secondary property of reflexive behaviour?

Answer 11

1. Habituation:
   IS UNIQUE TO REFLEXIVE BEHAVIOUR
   in terms of CC habituation refers to the decrease in a response rate of UR caused by the repeated presentation of the US.
   e.g. startle responses to loud stimuli

Question 12

What are the limitations of Habituation?

Answer 12

1. decreases in RR occur rapidly then slowly until 0 RR is reached.
2. If US presentation is withheld for an extensive period of time then habituation effects can be null due to spontaneous recovery.
3. when multiple habituation trials occur the rate in which habituation is reached increases across time with repeated US exposure.

Question 13

what is the difference between ontogenetic behaviour and phylogenetic behaviour?

Answer 13

Phylogenetic behaviour refers to behaviour-environment relations gained through evolution & looks at the species as a whole. Whereas, ontogenetic looks at the development of an individual, and how the experience with the environment guides those behaviour-environment relations.

Question 14

What is respondent conditioning?

Answer 14

Pavlovian or CC conditioning where there is a transfer of behaviour control from reflexive behaviour to a once netural stimulus. The control is transferred from US to a CS using a stimulus-stimulus method of associative learning.

Question 15

What is conditioned taste aversion?

Answer 15

where the pairing of a flavour (cs) and a drug (us) which induces sickness i.e. nausea (UR). Causes the subject to avoid the conditioned taste due to its association to sickness. This effect occurs regardless, of whether or not the subject is aware that the CS is not the direct cause and can be conditioned in 1 trial.

Question 16

What is a conditioned place preference?

Answer 16

where the pairing of a CS in a distinct environment causes the subject to associate that environment and the US. Depending on the US and UR association the environment can have a preference or aversive aspect.

Question 17

What is an asymptote?

Answer 17

The maximum associative strength a CS can have:

• directly linked to the associative strength of the US has it can not exceed it.
• Once asymptote is reached any additional CS has no effect on CR because there is no more to learn.

Question 18

inhibition theory of explaining sponateus recovery?

Answer 18

1. US CS association is formed
2. Extinction trail- where CS is presented without the US and CR gradually declines to null.
3. We see spontaneous recovery, CR response occurs after extinction trail.
   WHY? because the initial cs-us excitatory association is competing with the later cs-us inhibitory association. However, over time, inhibitory associations get weaker and eventually have null-effect.

Question 19

inhibition theory of explaining spontaneous recovery?

Answer 19

1. US CS association is formed
2. Extinction trail- where CS is presented without the US and CR gradually declines to null.
3. We see spontaneous recovery, CR response occurs after extinction trail.
   WHY? because the initial cs+us excitatory association is competing with the later cs-us inhibitory association. However, over time, inhibitory associations get weaker and eventually have null-effect.

Question 20

what are excitatory and inhibitory. conditioned stimuli?

Answer 20

Excitroty refers to any conditioned stimuli which increase the effect of the CR. In contrast, any CS that reduces the effects of the CR is called inhibitory conditioned stimuli.

Question 21

Respondant Discrimination

Answer 21

Responses are conditioned to only occur for one stimulus. I.e once conditioned the CS-CR association does not obey the same primary reflex laws as the US-UR relation.
This is evident in studies which found any change to the CS characteristics would decrease the strength of the CR. I.e unable to generalise and is instead respondent discriminatory.

Question 22

what is respondant (CC) extincition?

Answer 22

when cs is presented without us and CR rates reduce to null. Is a method used to identify if S-S association or S-sR pathway is used.

Question 23

What is the CS preexposure effect? And what theory is used to explain this observation?

Answer 23

Refered to as LATENT INHABITION theory, previous exposure to a cs creates an inhibitory association to the CS-CR contingency we are trying to condition. Thus, pre-exposure to CS slows the rate of classical conditioning acquisition.

Question 24

What does the Rescorla-Wagner Model not account for?

Answer 24

Latent Inhabition. Where pre-exposure to the cs has an inhibitory effect on future learning.

Question 25

What did Kamin's Blocking procedure tell us?

Answer 25

That prior associative learning of (A) and US prevented future learning of (B) and US in later trials because there was no new information being provided. (A) blocked (B)/

Question 26

What is Trace conditioning?

Answer 26

where CS is presented briefly with a period of latency before US is presented. Limited because it relies on the subject to have trace memory of the CS presentation. Weak association because there is no continuity and contingency relies on individual remembering the presentation of the US.

Question 27

What is backwards conditioning?

Answer 27

Where the US is presented before the CS. Thus, there is no contingency or contiguity between the CS-US and generally will not produce CR. Worst method.

Question 28

What is simultaneous conditioning?

Answer 28

When CS and US are presented together. This will produce a weaker association than delayed conditioning because there is no contingency between the US and the CS.

Question 29

What is complex conditioning?

Answer 29

When the transfer of behavioural control is extended to multiple conditioned stimuli. Where 2 or more compound stimuli produce a learnt association using delayed or simultaneous conditioning. But holds limitations such as blocking or overshadowing effects.

Question 30

What is overshadowing?

Answer 30

Observation that during complex conditioning the compound stimulus that is most salient can gain full behavioural control. This finding is shown through Conditioned Taste Aversion procedures.

Question 31

If we want to get rid of an unwanted CR, one should?

Answer 31

To Extinguish the CR we would present the CS without the US.

Question 32

Drug tolerance has been shown to be a result of:

Answer 32

elicited CR's

Question 33

What (3) things influence the rate of respondent acquisition?

Answer 33

1. Stimulus intensity: the stronger the US the stronger the CR 2. Stimulus Novelty: pre-exposure to the CS reduces the rate of acquisition for new s-s relation due to competition. 3. Temporal Relation of s-s presentation effects acquisition based on their contiguity and contingency.

Question 34

What is conditioned emotional suppression?

Answer 34

Paradigm used in Kamin's blocking study where a CSave reduces CR in its presence. Same paradigm in the little albert study where an emotional response like fear is conditioned with a CS-us association.

Question 35

What is second-order conditioning?

Answer 35

Second-Order conditioning occurs following the repeated presentation of the US-UR contingency allows an NS to become a CS through CS-CS association learning. The US-UR contingency and CS-CR contingencies can compete/counteract each other. e.g Drug tolerance, immunosuppression, conditioned allergic reaction.

Question 36

How does drug tolerance work?

Answer 36

The repeated process of injecting (CS) heroin (US) and the effects of the drug (UR). Overtime, if repeated in the same environment the environment itself can become a (CS) that when paired with (US) can produce a counteractive (CR) i.e an internal response which reduces the effects of the UR. Thus, a drug user needs to take more US to produce a strong UR and a tolerance has formed.

Question 37

How do drug overdoses occur?

Answer 37

Typically occur after a drug tolerance has formed and the drug is used in a new environment. In this case the CS(2) is no longer present and the counteractive CR effect does not take place. Thus the large US dose that they had a tolerance to is now fatal.

Question 38

How do drug withdrawal cravings work?

Answer 38

Withdrawal symptoms occur when the CS(2) are present and produce the CR. However, when the US is not present the UR is not there to counteract the CR.

Question 39

What are the 2 models of the association learnt in classical conditioning?

Answer 39

1. Stimulus-Response where the CS is directly linked to the UR and should then produce a CR similar to the UR. (1 pathway) 2. Stimulus-Stimulus where the CS is associated with the US which produces the UR. (2 pathways)

Question 40

How would we test if the association learnt is a S-R and S-S relation?

Answer 40

Using Rescorla-Wagner experiment where we weaken/remove the US-CS association through habituation. Then test if CR occurs after presenting the CS. If the CR occurs after habituation then there is a S-R association.

Question 41

Is the CR identical to the UR?

Answer 41

No the CR is often smaller, less complex and sometimes the opposite of the UR (drug-tolerance or immunosupression)

Question 42

What 2 things are required for classical conditioning to occur?

Answer 42

Contingency: The US to be dependent on the CS. Contiguity: Temporal proximity of CS and US presentation.

Question 43

According to Rescorla-Wagner's model what are the (3) types of learning?

Answer 43

1. Excitatory, where CS acquisition is more likely. 2. Inhibitory, where CS acquisition is less likely. 3. No learning, blocking.

Question 44

According to Rescorla-Wagner's model what (2) things effect learning rate?

Answer 44

1. Strength of existing expectations, pre-exposure to CS. | 2. Strength of the US, strength of the US effects the maximum size of the CS.

Question 45

What does Rescorla-Wagner's model tell us?

Answer 45

Aims to explain surprise learning ie. Blocking & overshadowing

Question 46

What did the Taste Aversion Procedure tell us about overshadowing?

Answer 46

Overshadowing is a phenomenon of second-order conditioning. This experiment showed us that C1 & C2 share associative strength & the most salient CS gains behavioural control.

Question 47

What are Rescorla-Wagner's (6) rules of learning?

Answer 47

``` 1. Excitatory when US is bigger than expectations. 2. Inhibitory when Us is smaller than expectations 3. No conditioning when US and expectations are equal 4. Greater conditioning when there is a larger discrepancy between US and expectations 5.Faster Learning when CS is more salient & vise versa 6. Expectations are equal to all CS's ```

Question 48

What are applications of classical conditioning?

Answer 48

1. Understanding Normal Behaviour 2. Understanding problem behaviour 3. Understanding health related behaviours

Question 49

What are (2) examples of classical conditioning applications to understand normal behaviour?

Answer 49

(a) emotional conditioned responses: an automatic (+) or (-) to events, stimulus, person or time of day (b) evaluative conditioning: i.e advertisements pairing their product with (+) stimulus to transfer the (+) evaluation onto their product- not a CC original because uses simultaneous paring instead of normal delayed.

Question 50

What are (2) examples of classical conditioning applications to understand problem behaviour?

Answer 50

(a) Phobias where (-) association is formed, inability to associate it with a specific memory can be explained by child amnesia and second hand trauma. (b) Anxiety generalised fear of an environment because the negative US could not be paired with a CS and subject is frequently anxious.

Question 51

What are (2) examples of classical conditioning applications to understand health related behaviours?

Answer 51

(a) Immunosuppression (b) Conditioned allergic reactions. both where second order CS association creates a counteractive CR to UR.

Question 52

What are (3) examples of behaviour modification techniques-i.e CC applied?

Answer 52

1. Aversion Therapy Pairing CS with a negative US to create an aversive association. eg. giving alcoholics a daily dose of emetic drugs where they only experience nausea and vomiting if its paired with alcohol. 2. Flooding where phobic individuals are presented the CS without the US to put CR fear response into extinction. 3. Systematic Desensitisation better method than flooding to remove CR fear response to CS phobia. Works in two steps: 1. Extinction: by removing CS-CR response gradually by pairing stimulus on the phobia hierarchy till CS is presented and not having US present. 2. Counteractive CS-US association, Simultaneously introducing breathing techniques and pairing them with CS to create a new (+) association.

Question 53

An example that highlights the relative nature of stimuli:

Answer 53

The same stimulus i.e sweet flavour can be both a CS and a US depending on the Conditioning procedure used. For example, In a Taste Aversion Procedure, the sweet taste is CS in a taste aversion procedure but in a Conditioned Place Preference procedure the sweet flavour is a US.

Question 54

Two effects in Conditioned Taste Aversion Procedures that show Overshadowing.

Answer 54

1. Strong Avoidance of the OverShadow Flavour (sweet) 2. Weak avoidance of target flavour (salty) Findings indicate that overtime the CR (taste aversion) to Sweet gained associative strength over time whilst the CR to Salty weakened. This highlights that CS1 and CS2 share associative strength and the more salient CS gains behavioural control.

Question 55

What Temporal Relation of the US-CS presentation the most effective.

Answer 55

Delayed, where US presentation follows the CS. Has both contingency and contiguity.

Question 56

What is the least effective temporal relation method in the presentation of the US-CS.

Answer 56

Backwards conditioning, there is no contingency between the US-CS and only possible if CS is biologically relevant but highly inconsistent method.

Question 57

Is contingency or contiguity more important for Classical conditioning?

Answer 57

Contingency.