Introduction to Learning
Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning is a learning process in which you form an
association between one stimulus and another.
It normally occurs when there is a natural reflex involved, such as
surprise. This can be known as a reflexive response.
Reflexive responding
The stimulus elicits an involuntary response. An example of this is
sneezing.
Pavlov’s dogs
Dogs were repeatedly fed by the same lab assistants in their white coats.
Associative learning must have taken place. Pavlov hooked the dogs up to
a machine that held them still and inserted a tube into their mouths which
would collect the saliva so it could be measured. When there is nothing to
respond to there is no saliva. The device however starts filling up when
the dog is presented with food as he starts to salivate. The dog has an
automatic reflexive response to the food.
Pavlov then starts to introduce the bell but the dog does not salivate to
the bell. He then starts to pair the bell and the food together. He starts by
ringing the bell where there is no salivation, then they introduce the food
which causes salivation and finally the bell and the food are introduced
together which will also cause salivation. After a period of time, the dogs
begins to associate the bell with the food.
The dog then starts salivating to the bell and only. It salivates even
though the food has not been presented.
Before conditioning
UNCONDITIONED STIMULUS (meat) UNCONDITIONED RESPONSE
(salivation)
NEUTRAL STIMULUS (bell) NO RESPONSE
The meat is an unconditioned response because it already produces the
reflexive response of salivation.
During conditioning
UNCONDITIONED STIMULUS (meat) + NEUTRAL STIMULUS (bell)
UNCONDITIONED RESPONSE (salivation)
The dog is responding to the unconditioned response but the neutral
stimulus just also happens to be there. It is through this process of
repeated trials that the connections begin to develop.
Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning is a learning process in which you form an
association between one stimulus and another.
It normally occurs when there is a natural reflex involved, such as
surprise. This can be known as a reflexive response.
Reflexive responding
The stimulus elicits an involuntary response. An example of this is
sneezing.
Pavlov’s dogs
Dogs were repeatedly fed by the same lab assistants in their white coats.
Associative learning must have taken place. Pavlov hooked the dogs up to
a machine that held them still and inserted a tube into their mouths which
would collect the saliva so it could be measured. When there is nothing to
respond to there is no saliva. The device however starts filling up when
the dog is presented with food as he starts to salivate. The dog has an
automatic reflexive response to the food.
Pavlov then starts to introduce the bell but the dog does not salivate to
the bell. He then starts to pair the bell and the food together. He starts by
ringing the bell where there is no salivation, then they introduce the food
which causes salivation and finally the bell and the food are introduced
together which will also cause salivation. After a period of time, the dogs
begins to associate the bell with the food.
The dog then starts salivating to the bell and only. It salivates even
though the food has not been presented.
Before conditioning
UNCONDITIONED STIMULUS (meat) UNCONDITIONED RESPONSE
(salivation)
NEUTRAL STIMULUS (bell) NO RESPONSE
The meat is an unconditioned response because it already produces the
reflexive response of salivation.
During conditioning
UNCONDITIONED STIMULUS (meat) + NEUTRAL STIMULUS (bell)
UNCONDITIONED RESPONSE (salivation)
The dog is responding to the unconditioned response but the neutral
stimulus just also happens to be there. It is through this process of
repeated trials that the connections begin to develop.
