Chapter 13. Sequence of Classical Conditioning

Learning Objectives

associative learning

learning by forming a link between two events

classical conditioning

a simple form of learning that involves forming an association between two stimuli

conditioned response (CR)

in classical conditioning, a response that, after conditioning, is triggered by a formerly neutral stimulus

conditioned stimulus (CS)

in classical conditioning, an initially neutral stimulus that, after conditioning, is able to trigger a response

learning

changing your behavior or your knowledge as a result of experience

neutral stimulus (NS)

in classical conditioning, an event that produces no response (is ignored)

stimulus

an external event, such as a light or sound, detected by our senses

unconditioned response (UR)

in classical conditioning, a response that is automatically triggered by a stimulus event

unconditioned stimulus (US)

in classical conditioning, an event that automatically triggers a response; no learning is required

Context Influences Color

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Learning Objective:

Describe the sequence of events in a typical classical conditioning experiment.

Review

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1. Learning often involves forming associations between two events.

13.0.1 Review

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2. Classical conditioning is a form of associative learning in which we learn that one stimulus predicts a second stimulus. When the first stimulus occurs, we anticipate that the other stimulus will soon follow.

13.0.2 Review

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3. In the early 1900s, the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov discovered that dogs could learn to associate a neutral stimulus (NS), such as a bell, with the presentation of food.

13.0.3 Review

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4. After this association was formed, any response the dog made to the food (such as salivating) could be produced by the neutral stimulus (NS) alone. In Pavlov’s terminology, the food was an unconditioned stimulus (US) that automatically produced an unconditioned response (UR) of salivating. After conditioning, the bell became a conditioned stimulus (CS), because the bell by itself triggered salivating, now called a conditioned response (CR).

Practice: Simulation of Conditioning

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Practice: Simulation of Conditioning

Step 1:

Test the Neutral Stimulus

In this simulation, we are trying to condition a person to salivate every time the red light turns on.

The first step is to demonstrate that the light is a neutral stimulus (NS). It should not cause the person to salivate before we begin the conditioning process.

Select the TEST THE LIGHT button and watch what happens.
Then, to continue through the sequence of events, select the buttons for Steps 2, 3, and 4.

Nothing happened. No saliva was produced. The red light is a neutral stimulus.

Step 2:

Test the Active Stimulus

Next, we need to find a stimulus that will reliably cause the person to salivate. Let's try a drop of lemon juice.

Select the TEST THE JUICE button and watch what happens.
Then, to continue through the sequence of events, select buttons for Steps 3 and 4.

The drop of juice caused the person to salivate. The lemon juice is an unconditioned stimulus (US) because it automatically produced the salivation response—no learning necessary. The salivation to the juice is called the unconditioned response (UR).

Step 3:

Pair the Stimuli

Now we are ready for the conditioning trials. On each trial, we will turn on the light just before the drop of juice arrives.

Select the START THE TRIALS button and watch what happens.
Then, to continue through the sequence of events, select button for Step 4.

The drop of juice, the unconditioned stimulus (US), reliably produces the salivation response, the unconditioned response (UR), on every trial. At this point, the red light is still a neutral stimulus (NS), but the person will quickly learn that the light is a signal that the drop of juice is about to arrive.

Select the CONTINUE THE TRIALS button and watch what happens.

After a few trials, the person begins to form an association between the light and the juice. Gradually the red light becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) that will eventually be able to produce the response by itself.

Now select the button for Step 4.

Step 4:

Test the Conditioned Stimulus

How do we determine whether the person learned the association between the light and the juice? We present the light by itself.

If the person salivates when the light turns on, even without the juice, the light is a conditioned stimulus (CS) and the salivation is a conditioned response (CR).

The red light is no longer a neutral stimulus (NS). Now the person has become conditioned to salivate every time the light turns on.

Now, select the NEXT button and move to Quiz 1.

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A side image of a man's head appears on the right side of the screen. The man's mouth is open with his tongue sticking out slightly. Under the tongue is a straw that slopes downward into a small cup. In front of the man is a red light bulb. Buttons representing Steps 1, 2, 3, and 4 are listed under the image. Each step takes you to a part of the simulation.

Quiz 1

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Quiz 1

Drag each event description to the appropriate gray area to form the correct sequence of events in a classically conditioned association. When all the descriptions have been placed, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

Perhaps you should go back to review the sequence of classical conditioning.

Select the NEXT button and move to Quiz 2.

Present the NS by itself to test whether it produces the response. If so, learning has occurred.

Present repeated trials in which the NS is presented first, followed immediately by the US, which produces the response.

Select a US and a NS. Verify that the US produces the UR, but the NS does not.

Quiz 2

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Quiz 2

Match the terms with their descriptions by dragging each colored circle to the appropriate gray circle. When all the circles have been placed, select the CHECK ANSWER button.

Perhaps you should go back to review the terms involved with classical conditioning.

Select the NEXT button and move to the Conclusion.

salivation in response to the red light

red light

lemon juice

salivation in response to the juice

Conclusion

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Congratulations!

You have completed the activity
Sequence of Classical Conditioning.