Pavlovian or Classical Pavlovian or Classical ConditioningConditioning

Psychology 3306Psychology 3306

IntroductionIntroduction

Pavlov was working Pavlov was working on digestion, the rest on digestion, the rest is history!is history!

Figured that lots of Figured that lots of dogs’ behaviour may dogs’ behaviour may have involved this have involved this conditional redirection conditional redirection of reflexesof reflexes

Called the Called the phenomenon phenomenon ‘Conditional Reflexes’‘Conditional Reflexes’

Conditional?Conditional?

Yes conditionalYes conditional Was mistranslated Was mistranslated

and ‘conditioned’!!!and ‘conditioned’!!! So that is where we So that is where we

get the term get the term conditioning fromconditioning from

Key termsKey terms

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS or US)Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS or US)Biologically relevant stimulus, that without Biologically relevant stimulus, that without

prior learning elicits an….prior learning elicits an….Unconditioned Response (UR or UCR)Unconditioned Response (UR or UCR)Conditioned Stimulus (CS)Conditioned Stimulus (CS)

Neutral stimulus that with many CS – US Neutral stimulus that with many CS – US pairing elicits apairing elicits a

Conditioned Response (CR)Conditioned Response (CR)

Cool conditioning stuffCool conditioning stuff

Seems that pretty much any reflex can be Seems that pretty much any reflex can be hooked uphooked up

Today we concentrate on a few different Today we concentrate on a few different preparationspreparations

Human eyeblink (rabbits too)Human eyeblink (rabbits too)CER (Conditioned emotional response) or CER (Conditioned emotional response) or

suppressionsuppressionSCR (Skin conductivity response)SCR (Skin conductivity response)Taste aversion or food aversionTaste aversion or food aversion

Early theoretical ideasEarly theoretical ideas

Pavlov and stimulus substitutionPavlov and stimulus substitutionUS replaced by CSUS replaced by CSHowever the CR is not always the same However the CR is not always the same

as the URas the URSign tracking takes this idea into account Sign tracking takes this idea into account

actuallyactuallyWeak, but intuitively pleasingWeak, but intuitively pleasing

Perhaps physiology?Perhaps physiology?

Pavlov thought there were CS and US Pavlov thought there were CS and US centres in the braincentres in the brain

Hmmm, don’t seem to be, though some Hmmm, don’t seem to be, though some responses are hooked up to specific brain responses are hooked up to specific brain regionsregions

What is the connection though is it S – S What is the connection though is it S – S or S – R?or S – R?

S-S and S-RS-S and S-R

US

CS

UR

If we could just get rid of that US – If we could just get rid of that US – UR bond…..UR bond…..

US

CS

UR

Rescrola (1973)Rescrola (1973)

So, how do you get rid of a response that So, how do you get rid of a response that is hard wired to a stimulus?is hard wired to a stimulus?

Well, if you use CER, then your response Well, if you use CER, then your response is startle right?is startle right?

How do you get rid of a startle reflex?How do you get rid of a startle reflex?Habituation!!Habituation!! (Bob is a smart man)(Bob is a smart man)

DesignDesign

GroupGroup Phase 1Phase 1 Phase 2Phase 2 TestTest

HabituationHabituation L -> NL -> N NoiseNoise LightLight

ControlControl L -> NL -> N NothingNothing LightLight

ResultsResults

Less suppression in Habituation groupLess suppression in Habituation group (In other words, more responding)(In other words, more responding)Therefore, the connection MUST be S – STherefore, the connection MUST be S – SWOW!WOW!

Some important properties of Some important properties of Pavlovian conditioningPavlovian conditioning

AcquisitionAcquisitionAsymptoteAsymptoteExtinctionExtinctionSpontaneous recoverySpontaneous recoveryDisinhibitionDisinhibitionRapid ReacquisitionRapid Reacquisition

Conditioned InhibitionConditioned Inhibition

Summation TestSummation TestB+B+A-A-ABAB

Retardation TestRetardation TestA-A-ABAB

GeneralizationGeneralization

So you will get a response (CR) to a given So you will get a response (CR) to a given CS.CS.

Just like with habituation, you will get Just like with habituation, you will get generalizationgeneralization

Just like with habituation the less similar Just like with habituation the less similar the new CS is to the original, the less CR the new CS is to the original, the less CR you getyou get

DiscriminationDiscrimination

Sort of the opposite of GeneralizationSort of the opposite of GeneralizationCS+ and CS-CS+ and CS-Animal responds (CR) to S+ not to S-Animal responds (CR) to S+ not to S-Discrimination gets too hard you get Discrimination gets too hard you get

‘neuroses’‘neuroses’

Temporal RelationshipsTemporal Relationships

Simultaneous conditioningSimultaneous conditioningShort delayShort delayLong delayLong delayTrace conditioningTrace conditioningBackwardsBackwards

Again, contiguity alone does not do the trick, Again, contiguity alone does not do the trick, no surprise hereno surprise here

Correlation of eventsCorrelation of events

CS- CS- CS- CS-CS- CS- CS- CS-

old control group, animal learns what?old control group, animal learns what?

CS + CS- CS+ CS- CS+ CS-CS + CS- CS+ CS- CS+ CS-

Rescorla ControlRescorla Control

CS+ CS+ CS+ CS+ CS+CS+ CS+ CS+ CS+ CS+

Conditional probabilityConditional probability

The animal basically compares p(US | CS) The animal basically compares p(US | CS) with p(US | no CS)with p(US | no CS)

The greater the difference the greater the The greater the difference the greater the conditioningconditioning

Long term more than short termLong term more than short termWhole new take on learningWhole new take on learning

Other paradigmsOther paradigms

Higher order conditioningHigher order conditioningSensory preconditioningSensory preconditioningOutside the lab too!Outside the lab too!

Daily lifeDaily lifeSystematic desensitizationSystematic desensitizationAversive counterconditioningAversive counterconditioningFloodingFlooding