Learning and Classical Conditioning 

How Do We Learn? Learning is defined as a relatively permanent change in an organism’s behavior due to experience (nurture). Most learning is associative learning: learning that certain events occur together. There are 3 main types of Learning: 1. Classical Conditioning 2. Operant Conditioning 3. Observational Learning

Unit 5: Learning Associative learning*: learning that two events are linked together. Both classical and operant conditioning are types of associative learning.

All Living Animals Learn Through Association

Classical Conditioning Terms you must understand: 1. Unconditioned means it is unlearned and comes naturally/reflexively. Ex: salivating when presented with food 2. Conditioned means it is learned and the response does not come naturally. Ex: getting up when school bell ring 3. Response: is an external behavior like salivating that occurs because of a stimulus 4. Stimulus: external thing, like a bell or food, that may cause a response (behavior)

Father of Classical Conditioning is Ivan Pavlov Russian physician/ neurophysiologist Russian physician/ neurophysiologist Was studying digestive enzymes in dogs when he accidentally realized the importance of associative learning which would consume his research for rest of his life. Was studying digestive enzymes in dogs when he accidentally realized the importance of associative learning which would consume his research for rest of his life.

Dog in Pavlov’s ApparatusDog in Pavlov’s Apparatus (clip) Dog in Pavlov’s Apparatus 

Classical Conditioning (Pavlovian Conditioning) Classical Conditioning is a type of learning in which a neutral stimulus (i.e. a sound) causes a conditioned response when that stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus that causes an unconditioned response. Classical Conditioning is a type of learning in which a neutral stimulus (i.e. a sound) causes a conditioned response when that stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus that causes an unconditioned response. Begins with a reflex which is unconditioned (unlearned) Begins with a reflex which is unconditioned (unlearned) A neutral stimulus is paired with a stimulus that evokes the reflex. A neutral stimulus is paired with a stimulus that evokes the reflex. Eventually the neutral stimulus alone will come to evoke the reflex. Eventually the neutral stimulus alone will come to evoke the reflex.

Components of Classical Conditioning Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) effective stimulus that unconditionally- automatically and naturally- triggers a response ex. food Unconditioned Response (UCR) unlearned, naturally occurring automatic response to the unconditioned stimulus Ex. salivation (when food is in the mouth)

Components of Classical Conditioning Conditioned Stimulus (CS) previously neutral stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response Ex. Tone or bell Conditioned Response (CR) learned response to a previously neutral conditioned stimulus ex. Salivation (when the tone or bell is heard)

Pavlov’s Classic Experiment

Can I Get A Volunteer to Be Conditioned?

What's the Point? Classical conditioning helps people and animals to: ​ adapt to their environment avoid poisonous foods. ​ deal with dangerous situations

Pavlov's Dog in the Office

Pavlov’s Dog – the Office UCS (unconditioned stimulus) UCR (unconditioned response) CS (conditioned stimulus) CR (conditioned response) offer of mint put hand out “da-duh” put hand out NS (neutral stimulus): “da-duh”

Extinction Extinction: the diminishing of a conditioned response. How would you make extinction occur? If the conditioned stimulus occurs repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus, eventually the conditioned response will cease. ex. If Pavlov kept making the tone (CS) without offering the food (US), the salivation (CR) would eventually stop.

Generalization vs. Discrimination Generalization: tendency for a stimuli similar to CS to evoke CR. Ex: doesn’t have to be same tone to make dog’s salivate…they generalize. It could be bell or something else similar to the CS Discrimination: the ability to distinguish between a CS and other similar stimuli. Ex: dogs wouldn’t salivate to a whistle since it was too different from the tone.

Lets Read About Little Albert!

John Watson conducted the Little Albert study in 1920 in which he attempted to modify the behavior of a 9 month old infant. Started with white rat which infant originally did not fear. After experiment, Little Albert feared white rats, rabbits, Santa Claus, cotton wool, etc.

Identify Components of the Little Albert Study Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): Unconditioned Response: (UCR): Conditioned Stimulus (CS): Conditioned Response (CR): Generalization: loud noise fear/anxiety white rat Other furry animals

Garcia’s Taste Aversion Studies Set up experiment with rats. Exposed them to sights, sounds, and tastes (CS) and later also gave them radiation or drugs that led to nausea and vomiting (UCR). Even if sickened hours later, rats avoided the particular flavor of water but did NOT develop aversions to the sights or sounds. Taste Aversion became known as the “Garcia Effect.”

Importance of Taste Aversion Studies Shows that nature prepares the members of each species to learn those things crucial to their survival. One pairing (unlike many pairings for a typical classical conditioning experiment) is typically all that is necessary to bring about the CR.

Some Real World Applications of Classical Conditioning Crack cocaine users feel craving when they encounter cues associated with highs (people, places, etc). So drug and rehab counselors advice them to steer clear of these places and people…make new friends, move. Pairing alcohol with a drug that induces vomiting is sometimes successful in getting alcoholics to stop drinking.

Country Time Salivation Activity

Counterconditioning Getting rid of a fear by associating it with something pleasant. Ex.: Eliminate a fear of mice by exposing the subject to mice while providing a pleasant stimulus like cookies or candy.