6/18/2012 1:32:00 PM

Module 17: Classical Conditioning

Learning- What do you think learning is? Associative Learning- Classical Conditioning, Operant Conditioning, Observational Learning Learning- a relatively permanent change in an organisms behavior due to experience History of Ivan Pavlov (1849-1943) -Connected to behaviorism -Early years, received MD when he was 33 years old, won Nobel Prize when dealing with digestive system of the dog (show dogs food, they will salivate) -Accidental Discovery -Experiment, attached an apparatus to a dogs mouth, paired food and tone to showing dog, automatically salivated, even if one DV was not there Components of Classical Conditioning: The Unconditioned Association Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)- Stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a natural response. Unconditioned Response (UCR)- Unlearned natural response to natural stimuli. (ex- hit hammer on knee- knee-jerk) The Conditioned Association Conditioned Stimulus (CS)- Formally the neutral stimulus since by itself does not evoke a response. After paired with the unconditional stimulus, triggers the conditional response. Conditioned Response (CR)- Learned response to previously neutral conditioned stimulus. Other Key Concepts Acquisition- The initial learning of the stimulus-response relationship

Extinction- Diminished responding that occurs when the CS no longer signals an impending US Spontaneous Recovery- When an association is acquired or extinguished and some time has passed without the CS and then when the CS is presented, the CR reappears. Generalization- The tendency to respond to similar stimuli. Exabused woman, dogs Discrimination- The learned ability to discriminate between conditioned stimulus and other irrelevant stimuli. Ex- traffic lights, cats