Lecture Outline Pavlov and Classical Conditioning

Lecture Outline • Pavlov and Classical Conditioning • Classical Conditioning includes Fear Conditioning • Subtleties of Classical Conditioning 1

Learning to get by • Our purpose is survival so we must adapt to the environment 1. 2. 3. • Observe environmental conditions Respond Manage outcome a. If positive, continue on b. If negative, adjust response Conditioning: refers to an enduring change in the way an organism responds based on its experience – – Relies on one’s ability to form new associations and ignore old ones that are no longer relevant Based on timing and emotional value of outcome 2

Ivan Pavlov • Pavlov was a Russian physiologist who accidentally discovered classical conditioning • Interested in the digestive system of animals – specifically saliva • Animals salivated in anticipation of food (cues!) 3

Pavlov literally measured saliva Pavlov’s Apparatus Form association between neutral stimuli and food… expecting food whenever the neutral stimuli appeared. Dog LEARNS that the neutral stimuli is informative/valuable • Classical Conditioning: learning in which a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus • Neutral stimulus No response • … becomes Conditioned Stimulus Conditioned Response 4

Classical Conditioning • Pavlov started pairing various neutral stimuli (e. g. , the sound of a bell or tone) with the meat powder • Initially : Bell Nothing Meat Powder Salivary Reflex • After repeated pairing : Bell Salivary Reflex Meat Powder Salivary Reflex • Dog’s response is conditioned : Bell Salivary Reflex (Meat powder is absent) 5

The Classical Conditioning Paradigm Terminology Unconditioned Stimulus (US) – Stimulus that naturally evokes a response without previous conditioning (e. g. , meat) Unconditioned Response (UR) – Unlearned response that naturally occurs in the presence of an unconditioned stimulus (e. g. , dogs salivate when they see meat) 6

The Classical Conditioning Paradigm Terminology Conditioned Stimulus (CS) – Neutral stimulus that gains the ability to evoke a response by repeatedly pairing it with the US (e. g. , Pavlov paired a bell with the meat) Conditioned Response (CR) – Learned response to the CS that occurs due to repeated pairings with the US – Represents anticipation of the US 7

The Classical Conditioning Paradigm Initially: Bell (Conditioned Stimulus) Nothing Meat Powder (Unconditioned Stimulus) Salivary Reflex (Unconditioned Response) During conditioning (training): Repeatedly pair bell (Conditioned Stimulus) with meat (Unconditioned Stimulus) Eventually: Bell (Conditioned Stimulus) Salivary Reflex (Conditioned Response) Meat Powder (Unconditioned Stimulus) Salivary Reflex (Unconditioned Response) 8

Human classical conditioning? • Unconditioned stimulus Unconditioned response – Smell good food Become hungry • Neutral stimulus No reaction – Hear bell “Yeah, so what? ” • Neutral stimulus + Unconditioned Stimulus Unconditioned Response – Hear bell then smell food … ? … • Over time, when we LEARN that neutral stimulus has value – Neutral stimulus becomes the conditioned stimulus – Hear bell … ? … 9

Sample Problem While driving, Lauren passes several signs advertising fresh brewed Starburst Coffee. Lauren loves coffee. When she drinks it, she can feel the effect that caffeine has on her alertness. When she passes a sign for Starburst coffee on the road, she has a temporary burst of energy that is similar to the effect that caffeine has on her when she is actually drinking Starburst coffee. Given her many experiences with Starburst coffee, Lauren has learned to associate the mere sight of a Starburst ad with an actual hot, steamy cup on Starburst coffee. 1. The signs advertising Starburst coffee represents what part of Lauren’s learning? a. Unconditioned stimulus (US) c. Unconditioned response (UR) b. Conditioned stimulus (CS) d. Conditioned response (CR) 2. The temporary burst of energy that Lauren experiences when she sees a sign advertising Starburst coffee represents what part of her learning? a. Unconditioned stimulus (US) c. Unconditioned response (UR) b. Conditioned stimulus (CS) d. Conditioned response (CR) 3. If Lauren stops at the next exit to buy a hot, steamy cup of Starburst coffee, the actual coffee that she drinks represents what part of her learning? a. Unconditioned stimulus (US) c. Unconditioned response (UR) b. Conditioned stimulus (CS) d. Conditioned response (CR) 10

Sample Problem While driving, Lauren passes several signs advertising fresh brewed Starburst Coffee. Lauren loves coffee. When she drinks it, she can feel the effect that caffeine has on her alertness. When she passes a sign for Starburst coffee on the road, she has a temporary burst of energy that is similar to the effect that caffeine has on her when she is actually drinking Starburst coffee. Given her many experiences with Starburst coffee, Lauren has learned to associate the mere sight of a Starburst ad with an actual hot, steamy cup on Starburst coffee. 1. The signs advertising Starburst coffee represents what part of Lauren’s learning? a. Unconditioned stimulus (US) c. Unconditioned response (UR) b. Conditioned stimulus (CS) d. Conditioned response (CR) 2. The temporary burst of energy that Lauren experiences when she sees a sign advertising Starburst coffee represents what part of her learning? a. Unconditioned stimulus (US) c. Unconditioned response (UR) b. Conditioned stimulus (CS) d. Conditioned response (CR) 3. If Lauren stops at the next exit to buy a hot, steamy cup of Starburst coffee, the actual coffee that she drinks represents what part of her learning? a. Unconditioned stimulus (US) c. Unconditioned response (UR) b. Conditioned stimulus (CS) d. Conditioned response (CR) 11

The Classical Conditioning Paradigm Terminology Unconditioned Stimulus (US) – Stimulus that naturally evokes a response without previous conditioning Unconditioned Response (UR) – Unlearned response that naturally occurs in the presence of an unconditioned stimulus 12

The Classical Conditioning Paradigm Terminology Conditioned Stimulus (CS) – Neutral stimulus that gains the ability to evoke a response by repeatedly pairing it with the US Conditioned Response (CR) – Learned response to the CS that occurs due to repeated pairings with the US 13

The Classical Conditioning Paradigm Terminology coffee arousal ad nothing Unconditioned Stimulus (US) – Stimulus that naturally evokes a response without previous conditioning – COFFEE Unconditioned Response (UR) – Unlearned response that naturally occurs in the presence of an unconditioned stimulus – Increase in arousal 14

The Classical Conditioning Paradigm Terminology coffee arousal ad nothing ad coffee arousal ad arousal Conditioned Stimulus (CS) – Neutral stimulus that gains the ability to evoke a response by repeatedly pairing it with the US – SIGHT OF COFFEE AD Conditioned Response (CR) – Learned response to the CS that occurs due to repeated pairings with the US – The once-neutral COFFEE AD evokes SLIGHT INCREASE IN AROUSAL – CR similar to UR but generally slightly smaller in magnitude 15

Lecture Outline • Pavlov and Classical Conditioning • Classical Conditioning includes Fear Conditioning • Subtleties of Classical Conditioning 16

Conditioning a Fearful Response • Goal of classical conditioning is to get a neutral stimulus to lead to some response/behavior. – Pavlov: Bell Salivation – Coffee Ad Example: Billboard Slight arousal • Conditioned response = anticipation • Anticipation in the form of fear called fear conditioning 17

Ethically Conditioning an Emotional Response • Psychologists teach participants to be afraid of a neutral auditory clicks by blowing a puff of air into the eye US (puff of air) UR (blink) CS (auditory click) + US (puff of air) UR (blink) CS (auditory click) CR (anticipation of US, or puff of air) Result = anticipatory fear (i. e. , flinch) 18

Fear Conditioning & Phobias • Fear conditioning can lead to phobias (intense and sometimes irrational fear or anxiety) • Little Albert’s fear created by association of soft furry objects with noise • The norm – US: Loud noise – UR: Startle response • Training – CS: Furry animal + US: Loud noise • The outcome – CS: Furry animal CR: Fear of loud noise 19

Sample Problem George failed to make his first payment toward his student loan after graduating from Kentucky Technical College, and as a result he receives frequent phone calls from a bill collector. The bill collector is never nice, nor is he very compassionate about George’s financial situation. After a few minutes of arguing with the bill collector, George’s typical response is to hang up on the bill collector. Over time, George comes to associate the sound of the ringing telephone with a feeling of dread. 1. The ringing phone represents what part of George’s learning? a. Unconditioned stimulus (US) c. Unconditioned response (UR) b. Conditioned stimulus (CS) d. Conditioned response (CR) 2. George’s conversation with the bill collector represents what part of his learning? a. Unconditioned stimulus (US) c. Unconditioned response (UR) b. Conditioned stimulus (CS) d. Conditioned response (CR) 3. After George argues with the bill collector, he hangs up the phone. This represents what part of his learning? a. Unconditioned stimulus (US) c. Unconditioned response (UR) b. Conditioned stimulus (CS) d. Conditioned response (CR) 20

Sample Problem George failed to make his first payment toward his student loan after graduating from Kentucky Technical College, and as a result he receives frequent phone calls from a bill collector. The bill collector is never nice, nor is he very compassionate about George’s financial situation. After a few minutes of arguing with the bill collector, George’s typical response is to hang up on the bill collector. Over time, George comes to associate the sound of the ringing telephone with a feeling of dread. 1. The ringing phone represents what part of George’s learning? a. Unconditioned stimulus (US) c. Unconditioned response (UR) b. Conditioned stimulus (CS) d. Conditioned response (CR) 2. George’s conversation with the bill collector represents what part of his learning? a. Unconditioned stimulus (US) c. Unconditioned response (UR) b. Conditioned stimulus (CS) d. Conditioned response (CR) 3. After George argues with the bill collector, he hangs up the phone. This represents what part of his learning? a. Unconditioned stimulus (US) c. Unconditioned response (UR) b. Conditioned stimulus (CS) d. Conditioned response (CR) 21

Review Questions for Chapter 5 David and his roommate, Ted, have known each other for years. David is known as quite the prankster. He decides to train Ted to be fearful of the cartoon The Flintstones. Whenever theme song for the show plays on the TV, David sneaks up behind Ted and screams, causing Ted to flinch and cover his ears. After about one week of sneaking up behind Ted and screaming when The Flintstones theme song plays on TV, Ted gets tense and paranoid when he watches the beginning of this show. 5. For Ted, flinching at David’s screaming represents a(n) ______. a. unconditioned stimulus (US) c. unconditioned response (UR) b. conditioned stimulus (CS) d. conditioned response (CR) 6. For Ted, discomfort at the start of the show represents a(n) ______. a. unconditioned stimulus (US) c. unconditioned response (UR) b. conditioned stimulus (CS) d. conditioned response (CR) 7. For Ted, David’s screaming represents a(n) ______. a. unconditioned stimulus (US) c. unconditioned response (UR) b. conditioned stimulus (CS) d. conditioned response (CR) 8. For Ted, The Flintstones theme music represents a(n) ______. a. unconditioned stimulus (US) c. unconditioned response (UR) b. conditioned stimulus (CS) d. conditioned response (CR) 22

Answers to Review Questions David and his roommate, Ted, have known each other for years. David is known as quite the prankster. He decides to train Ted to be fearful of the cartoon The Flintstones. Whenever theme song for the show plays on the TV, David sneaks up behind Ted and screams, causing Ted to flinch and cover his ears. After about one week of sneaking up behind Ted and screaming when The Flintstones theme song plays on TV, Ted gets tense and paranoid when he watches the beginning of this show. 5. For Ted, flinching at David’s screaming represents a(n) ______. a. unconditioned stimulus (US) c. unconditioned response (UR) b. conditioned stimulus (CS) d. conditioned response (CR) 6. For Ted, discomfort at the start of the show represents a(n) ______. a. unconditioned stimulus (US) c. unconditioned response (UR) b. conditioned stimulus (CS) d. conditioned response (CR) 7. For Ted, David’s screaming represents a(n) ______. a. unconditioned stimulus (US) c. unconditioned response (UR) b. conditioned stimulus (CS) d. conditioned response (CR) 8. For Ted, The Flintstones theme music represents a(n) ______. a. unconditioned stimulus (US) c. unconditioned response (UR) b. conditioned stimulus (CS) d. conditioned response (CR) 23

Lecture Outline • Pavlov and Classical Conditioning • Fear Conditioning • Subtleties of Classical Conditioning 24

Acquisition • Acquisition refers to the initial stage of learning something • Acquisition can be tracked by observing the learning curve – – • # of trials (x-axis) vs. strength of CR (yaxis) Strength of CR measured in 2 ways: 1. response amplitude • Pavlov: amount of saliva 2. probability of response • proportion of trials that the CR occurs when the CS is presented alone Pavlov’s Experiment CR strength starts at zero, then increases rapidly, and levels off 25

Extinction • Extinction is the gradual weakening of a conditioned response • If a CS is repeatedly given in the absence of the US, the strength of the CR is reduced – Learning wears off over time – CS is no longer relevant to the situation – … but CS-CR association not erased • The more the CS appears without the US, the more the CR strength degrades • Extinction undone via reconditioning – presentation of learning trials to revive CR – Relearning speed > Original learning speed 26

Spontaneous Recovery • Sometimes the extinguished conditioned response (CR) will spontaneously reappear after a period of non-exposure to the conditioned stimulus (CS) • Although it seems like extinction eliminates the CR strength after one day, some CR strength returns if a period of rest is given – CR reappears ! – Memory for training retained – Animal checks to see if the once informative stimulus again signals something important 27

Acquisition, Extinction, & Spontaneous Recovery 28

Stimulus Generalization & Discrimination • Stimulus Generalization: learner responds in same way to stimuli that resemble the conditioned stimulus (e. g. , any tone) – Little Albert’s fear of furry creatures/puppets/stimuli • Stimulus Discrimination: learner only responds to conditioned stimulus with specific features, holding back from responding to similar stimuli (e. g. , specific pitch of tone vs. any tone) – Ring tones on our phones 29

Lecture Outline • Pavlov and Classical Conditioning • Classical Conditioning includes Fear Conditioning • Subtleties of Classical Conditioning 30