CLASSICAL CONDITIONING LEARNING CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

What is learning? Learning is defined as a relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge that occurs as a result of experience.

NS UCS UCR CS CR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE8pFWP5QDM NS – neutral stimulus UCS – unconditioned stimulus UCR – unconditioned response CS – conditioned stimulus CR – conditioned response NS - hearing a computer boot up UCS - eating a mint UCR – have/need fresh breath CS – hearing a computer boot up CR – have/need fresh breath

The 4 factors that form the definition of learning: Learning is inferred from a change in behavior/performance Learning results in an inferred change in memory Learning is the result of experience Learning is relatively permanent

learning So, that rules out the possibility of what learning is and what learning isn’t. This means that behavior changes that are temporary or due to things like drugs, alcohol, ect., are NOT learned.

One type of learning is: Classical Conditioning Aka Associational Learning Conditioning=Learning

Formal definition of classical conditioning Learning that takes place when an originally neutral stimulus comes to produce a conditioned response because of its association with an unconditioned stimulus.

Pavlov and contiguity Temporal association between two events that occur closely together in time. The more closely in time two events occurred, the more likely they were to become associated; as time passes, association becomes less likely.

Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) What can a UCS be? It can be any stimulus that creates an autonomic/ automatic /reflexive response in an organism

Unconditioned response (UCR) What can a UCR be? An UCR can be any unlearned response that can be elicited (to be drawn out) from an organism. Heart rate increasing Sweat Vomit/nausea Tears Fear Etc.

Conditioned stimulus (CS) What can be a CS? Anything that can be perceived (heard, smelled, felt, seen, tasted) Virtually anything can be paired up with a UCS to become a CS.

Conditioned response (CR) Anything that can be a UCR/CR can become a CR. What can become a CR? The UCR/UR is ALWAYS the same as the CR. Some purists will disagree with this, but for our intro psych purposes, this is true. We will not be getting into advanced behavioral theory, just the basics of classical conditioning.

Diagram of classical conditioning Unlearned S-R UCS UCR + NS (association formed/pairing made) CS CR Learned S-R

Little albert example of cc Unlearned S-R UCS UCR Loud Noise fear/crying + NS (association formed/pairing made) Rat or Rabbit fear/crying CS CR Learned S-R

Pavlov’s dog example of cc Unlearned S-R UCS UCR Food presented dog salivating + NS (association formed/pairing made) Bell dog salivating CS CR Learned S-R

learning Remember that Little Albert generalized his fear of rats into fear of anything with white fur, including a Santa Claus mask, a rabbit, a furry dog, a fur coat, etc.

Example of classical conditioning Unlearned S-R UCS UCR Flu Bug vomiting + NS (association formed/pairing made) Restaurant of Choice vomiting CS CR Learned S-R

Example of classical conditioning Unlearned S-R UCS UCR Sadness over breakup crying + NS (association formed/pairing made) Song that meant a lot to relationship crying CS CR Learned S-R

Classical conditioning terms Acquisition - is associating a CS with the UCS. It occurs most readily when a CS is presented just before (usually half a second) a UCS Generalization – applies learning to similar things to what was associated. Discrimination - does not apply learning to similar things to what was associated – responds only to the original association.

Classical conditioning terms Extinction – a procedure that leads to the gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of the CR. It involves repeatedly presenting the CS without pairing it with the UCS. Spontaneous Recovery – occurs when a previously extinguished CR reappears after a period of no training. Will often result from non-recognized factors not previously identified.