Key Terms
Learning
A relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge that results from experience.
Reflex
Automatic, motor/neural reaction to a specific stimulus. Simple.
Instinct
Innate behavior triggered by broader events like maturation or seasons. More complex.
All three involve associative learning
Making connections between stimuli or events that occur together.
Classical Conditioning
Stimulus paired with another stimulus. Tends to be unconscious.
Classical conditioning
Stimulus paired with another stimulus; response is elicited. Cognitive map: mental representation of an environment's la
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)
Naturally triggers a response without any learning. (Food) Unconditioned Response (UCR): natural, unlearned reaction to
Example
CS1 (bell) trains CS2 (light). Light alone now produces the CR.
UCR
Nausea/vomiting CS: the food CR: nausea when smelling that food again
Acquisition
Initial learning phase in classical conditioning.
Extinction
CR weakens and disappears when the CS is repeatedly presented without the UCS.
Spontaneous Recovery
After extinction and a rest period, the CR reappears on its own. Demonstrates the original learning was not fully erased
Stimulus Generalization
CR occurs to stimuli similar to the CS. The more similar, the stronger the response.
Stimulus Discrimination
Organism learns to respond only to the specific CS and not to similar stimuli. Opposite of generalization.
UCS
Loud noise UCR: fear/crying CS: white rat CR: fear of white rat