1 of 18

Classical Conditioning III

Learning, Chapter 5

Mark Berg

2 of 18

  • Estella thought Juan looked a little tipsy as he left the picnic to drive home. She wondered if she should tell him that the supposedly nonalcoholic punch he had been drinking was actually spiked with vodka. On the other hand, he had only had a single glass. He surely couldn't be drunk.

3 of 18

Classical Conditioning

  • Review Video 

4 of 18

5 of 18

S-R Model

  • S-R, Stimulus-Response model
  • The neutral stimulus becomes directly associated with the unconditioned response
  • Comes to elicit the same response as the unconditioned response

6 of 18

S-S Model

  • S-S Stimulus-Stimulus model
  • The NS becomes directly accociated with the US
  • Comes to elicit a response that is related to the US

7 of 18

S-R or S-S

  • Are they both correct?
  • S-R was theorized by Watson and Hull
  • Modern theorists emphasize S-S associations
  • Sometimes conditioning involves both types

8 of 18

Pavlov

  • Stimulus-Substitution theory
  • The CS acts as a substitute for the US
  • Tone paired with food
  • Tone becomes a substitute for the food
  • Both elicit salivation

9 of 18

Neurology of Classical Conditioning

  • Food – activates food center in the cortex of the brain – Activates salivation center in the cortex – Salivation occured

10 of 18

Neurology of Classical Conditioning

  • Light – Activates light center in the cortex of the brain – Activates food center in the cortex – Activates salivation center in the cortex - Salivation

11 of 18

Neurology of Classical Conditioning

  • Pavlov's theories about cortex activation were incorrect
  • Things are much more complicated
  • The theory that the CS is somehow a direct substitute for the US is true in some cases
  • Animals will lick the light that signals the delivery of food
  • Sign Tracking (CH 11)

12 of 18

Neurology of Classical Conditioning

  • Preparatory-Response theory (Kimble)
  • The CR serves to prepare the organism for the presentation of the US
  • The dog salivates to the tone in order to get ready for the food delivery

13 of 18

Compensatory-Response Model

  • When conditioning eventually results in a CR that appears to be the opposite of the original UR
  • Drug Reactions

14 of 18

Compensatory-Response Model

  • Related to opponent process theory of emotion
  • A CS that has been repeatedly associated with the primary response (a-process) to a US will eventually come to elicit a compensatory response (b-process)

15 of 18

Compensatory-Response Model

  • The compensatory reactions to a US serve to maintain a state of homeostasis (internal balance)
  • If the reaction occurs before the US is presented they will be even more effective in dealing with the disturbance caused by the US
  • Overdose

16 of 18

  • Estella thought Juan looked a little tipsy as he left the picnic to drive home. She wondered if she should tell him that the supposedly nonalcoholic punch he had been drinking was actually spiked with vodka. On the other hand, he had only had a single glass. He surely couldn't be drunk.

17 of 18

Rescorla – Wagner Theory

18 of 18

Rescorla – Wagner Theory

  • Proposes that a given US can support only so much conditioning
  • The conditioning must be distributed among the other CS's available
  • There is only so much associated value that can be distributed among the various cues associated with the US
  • Stronger US's support more conditioning than do weaker US's