PSY 402Flavor Aversion LearningFactors Affecting ConditioningStimulus Presentation ParadigmsMassed vs Spaced TrialsImportance of NoveltyStimulus Intensity (Strength)Pseudo-conditioningAcquired Changes in ResponseSlide 10Slide 11Slide 12Slide 13Slide 14Slide 15Conditioned InhibitionDetection of Conditioned InhibitionProducing Conditioned InhibitionMore Inhibition ProceduresNecessary Conditions for InhibitionBlocking and UnblockingRelative ValidityPSY 402Theories of LearningChapter 3 – Nuts and Bolts of Conditioning(Mechanisms of Classical Conditioning)Flavor Aversion LearningGarcia – rats will not drink water with saccharin if they get ill after drinking.Significant avoidance occurs after just one trial.Human food aversions are related to illness (89%).Even if illness occurs hours later it is linked to the previous meal.Not cognitive – you can know the food is not to blame and still feel an aversion to it.Factors Affecting ConditioningTiming – how closely in time are the CS and UCS, and which occurs first.Novelty of the CS and UCS.Intensity (strength) of the CS and UCS.Consistency of the pairing between the CS and UCS.If one or the other appears alone then conditioning is weakened.Stimulus Presentation ParadigmsDelayed conditioning – the CS onset precedes the UCS onset.Trace conditioning – the CS starts and ends before the UCS onset.Simultaneous conditioning – the CS and UCS occur together.Backward conditioning – the UCS starts and ends before the CS onset.These paradigms will be on the midtermMassed vs Spaced TrialsBetter learning occurs when trials are spaced out over time (spaced), rather than bunched together (massed).Memory consolidation or rehearsal may be needed between trials.The ratio between the exposure to the CS and the time in-between is the important factor.If both are the same duration, learning is weaker.Importance of NoveltyPreexposure to the CS (before it is paired with the UCS) reduces learning.Called latent inhibition because it inhibits learning of the CS-UCS association.The same thing happens with preexposure to the US (before it is paired with the CS).Called the US preexposure effectOther, more novel stimuli are more likely to become associated with the UCS.Stimulus Intensity (Strength)The stronger the US (UCS), the faster the learning and the stronger the association.The stronger the CS, the better the learning.Salience – how attention-getting the stimulus is in relation to other stimuli in the environment.The most salient CS becomes associated with the UCS.An overpowering CS may elicit a response of its own, preventing learning.Pseudo-conditioningResponses to the CS may occur due to the strength of the UCS, not learning.Once air has been puffed at the eye, blinking may occur in response to any stimulus that comes next, without any learning.Sensitization resulting from an intense UCS may cause the response to a CS to be increased, even when there is not greater learning.A control group lets you tell the difference.Acquired Changes in ResponseHabituation – response to a repeated stimulus decreases with non-threat experience.Sensitization – response to a variety of stimuli increases with a single threat experience.Examples:Ingestional neophobia, fear of new foodRats orient less toward light, startle decreasesChicks are less frightened by shadows flying overhead with repeated exposure.Factors Affecting ConditioningTiming – how closely in time are the CS and UCS, and which occurs first.Novelty of the CS and UCS.Intensity (strength) of the CS and UCS.Consistency of the pairing between the CS and UCS.If one or the other appears alone then conditioning is weakened.Stimulus Presentation ParadigmsDelayed conditioning – the CS onset precedes the UCS onset.Trace conditioning – the CS starts and ends before the UCS onset.Simultaneous conditioning – the CS and UCS occur together.Backward conditioning – the UCS starts and ends before the CS onset.These paradigms will be on the midtermMassed vs Spaced TrialsBetter learning occurs when trials are spaced out over time (spaced), rather than bunched together (massed).Memory consolidation or rehearsal may be needed between trials.The ratio between the exposure to the CS and the time in-between is the important factor.If both are the same duration, learning is weaker.Importance of NoveltyPreexposure to the CS (before it is paired with the UCS) reduces learning.Called latent inhibition because it inhibits learning of the CS-UCS association.The same thing happens with preexposure to the US (before it is paired with the CS).Called the US preexposure effectOther, more novel stimuli are more likely to become associated with the UCS.Stimulus Intensity (Strength)The stronger the US (UCS), the faster the learning and the stronger the association.The stronger the CS, the better the learning.Salience – how attention-getting the stimulus is in relation to other stimuli in the environment.The most salient CS becomes associated with the UCS.An overpowering CS may elicit a response of its own, preventing learning.Pseudo-conditioningResponses to the CS may occur due to the strength of the UCS, not learning.Once air has been puffed at the eye, blinking may occur in response to any stimulus that comes next, without any learning.Sensitization resulting from an intense UCS may cause the response to a CS to be increased, even when there is not greater learning.A control group lets you tell the difference.Conditioned InhibitionA CS can signal the presence of a UCS.This is called excitation, CS+A CS that never appears with the UCS signals the absence of the UCS. It becomes an “all clear” signal.This is called inhibition, CS-In fear conditioning an excitor produces anxiety, an inhibitor produces relief or safety.Detection of Conditioned InhibitionSummation test:Step 1 – Condition two stimuli as CS+ & CS-Step 2 – Present both together.Step 3 – Present the CS+ alone, with a neutral stimulus, or with another CS+.The results of Step 2 should be less than Step 3.Retardation of Acquisition test – turning a CS- into a CS+ takes longer than creating a CS+ from a neutral stimulus.Producing Conditioned InhibitionDifferential (discriminative) inhibition:Present two stimuli, one
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