Before conditioning, an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) naturally elicits an unconditioned response (UCR), while a neutral stimulus (NS) does not elicit that response. For example, an illustration of this stage shows a dog salivating at the sight of food (UCS -> UCR), but not salivating when a bell is rung (NS -> No Response).

Before Classical Conditioning

The conditioning phase involves repeatedly pairing the neutral stimulus (NS) with the unconditioned stimulus (UCS). This process of association is demonstrated in an illustration where a bell is rung at the same time food is presented to a dog, causing the dog to salivate.

During Classical Conditioning

After conditioning is complete, the previously neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) that can elicit the response on its own. This learned association is shown in an illustration where the dog salivates in response to the bell ringing, even without the presence of food. The salivation is now a conditioned response (CR).

After Classical Conditioning

Analyze the learning process described in the case study below. Specifically, explain what the sound of the dental drill represents to the patient *after* the events described and how it came to elicit the patient's reaction of anxiety.

Learned Fear Response

It is useful to consider the phases before, during, and after conditioning.

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- Unconditioned stimulus (US): stimulus that produces an automatic response without prior conditioning


- Unconditioned response (UR): unconditioned reaction automatically elicited by the unconditioned stimulus


- Neutral stimulus (NS): a stimulus that elicits no response before conditioning


- Conditioned stimulus (CS): a previous NS that elicits a conditioned response after being paired with the US


- Conditioned response (CR): the learned response to the conditioned stimulus after the CS and US are paired


(Spielman 2020)

Classical Conditioning: Terms

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

-A type of classical conditioning in which a subject is presented with a light or sound paired with a brief aversive stimulus such as a mild electrical shock. After multiple trials, subjects will experience fear responses such as cardiac and respiratory changes when only light or sound is presented. 

-Studies of fear conditioning have shown that the amygdala is the key structure that mediates fear.

Fear Conditioning

A neutral stimulus (NS) is a stimulus that does not naturally elicit the target response before conditioning begins. This is because the organism has no prior learned association with the stimulus that would trigger that specific reaction. For instance, before Pavlov's experiment, the sound of a tone was a neutral stimulus to the dogs, as it did not cause them to salivate.

Neutral Stimulus (NS)

An unconditioned stimulus (UCS) is a stimulus that triggers a reflexive, unlearned response in an organism. In Pavlov's experiments, the meat powder served as the UCS because it naturally caused the dogs to salivate without any prior training.

Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS)

Before, During, and After Classical Conditioning

A dog owner uses an electric can opener to open their dog's food every day. The sound of the can opener running makes the dog excited and start to salivate. Eventually, the dog gets excited and salivates whenever it hears the sound of any electric appliance running in the kitchen, even if it is not the can opener. In this scenario, the sound of the electric can opener is the:

Learn Before

Related

Learn After