Deck 3: Elicited Behaviors and Classical Conditioning

Question 1

A simple, involuntary response to a stimulus is called a ______.

Answer 1

Reflex action is an involuntary, simple and an autonomic (instantaneous) response to a stimulus. It elicits a response which is involuntary. This reflex action occurs via a path called as reflex arc. In some reflexes, only one set of muscles or gland is involved, while in some other, a coordinated activity of various parts of the body is involved.
Example of a reflex action is the involuntary movement of hand, which is taken away on touching a sharp or hot object. The sharp or hot object works as a stimulus the reflex, involuntary action is the removal of hand.
This response is simple and involuntary, as we do not choose to remove our hand on touching a hot object, but it is instantly and involuntary removed.
So, the given blank can be filled with .

Question 2

A ______ ______ ______ is a fixed sequence of responses that occurs in reaction to a specific stimulus.

Answer 2

Fixed action pattern is a behavioral pattern that is determined by genes. This behavior is expressed automatically. This behavior is neither expressed by seeing the animal of same species nor expressed by learning from other members of same species. This behavior is determined by genes and is also seen in animals that are raised in isolation.
For example, if a mouse is raised in isolation, a pregnant mouse starts to build a nest. She does not do it by seeing other members, or it is not learnt from other members. This type of behavior is known as Fixed Action Pattern.
Fixed Action Pattern consists of behavioral actions that are pre-wired or pre-programmed in the central nervous system of animal through genetic material. These actions include courtship display, mating, feeding patterns, nest building, parental care, and construction of web by spiders.
So, the given blank can be filled with .

Question 3

An increase in the strength of a behavior following repeated presentations of the eliciting stimulus is called ______.

Answer 3

The strength of an eliciting behavior can be altered when an eliciting stimulus is presented repeatedly. Habituation is the decrease in the strength of response, when the stimulus that elicits this response is presented repeatedly.
It is the gradual fading of response when a stimulus that is safe, neutral or irrelevant is given repeatedly. Habituation can be explained by the example of us becoming habitual to the noise we hear every day in our neighborhood.
Sensitization on the other hand is the increase in the strength of response when the stimulus that elicits it is presented repeatedly. Example of sensitization is the soldier becoming sensitive to the noise of artillery exploding.
So, the given blank can be filled with .

Question 4

In general, repeated presentations of a low-intensity stimulus result in ______, and repeated presentations of a high-intensity stimulus result in ______.

Question 5

The opponent-process theory of emotion accounts for why a strong emotional response is often followed by a(n) (similar/opposite) ______ emotional response.

Question 6

With repeated presentations of the emotional event, the b-process (increases/ decreases) ______ in both s ______ and d ______.

Question 7

Classical conditioning is also known as P ______ conditioning or r ______ conditioning.

Question 8

In ______ conditioning, the US is an event that is usually considered unpleasant and that the organism avoids.

Question 9

Conditioning associated with the removal of a US is known as ______ conditioning, whereas conditioning associated with the presentation of a US is known as ______ conditioning.

Question 10

The most successful temporal arrangement for conditioning is delayed conditioning, in which the onset of the NS (precedes/follows) ______ the onset of the US, and the two stimuli (overlap/do not overlap) ______.

Question 11

What is a reflex? Describe the startle response, orienting response, and flexion response.

Question 12

Reflexes are e ______ in the sense that they are drawn out by stimuli that precede their occurrence.

Question 13

The specific stimulus that elicits a fixed action pattern is called a s ______ stimulus or r ______.

Question 14

A decrease in the strength of a behavior following repeated presentations of the eliciting stimulus is called ______.

Question 15

A stimulus of intermediate intensity will initially result in a period of ______, which is then followed by ______.

Question 16

The ______-______ is directly elicited by the emotional event; this in turn elicits the______-______, the purpose of which is to maintain a relatively balanced internal state known as h ______.

Question 17

The______-______ is directly tied to the presence of the emotional event, whereas the______-______ is (slow/quick) ______ to increase and (slow/quick) ______ to decrease.

Question 18

In the latter case, the behaviors themselves are called ______ behaviors or simply ______.

Question 19

In ______ conditioning, the US is an event that is usually considered pleasant and that the organism seeks out.

Question 20

Your grandmother always cooks great meals except when your vegetarian sister is present. As a result, you usually salivate a great deal when sitting at your grandmother's table for a meal, but not when your sister is present. Your grandmother's table is an ______ CS for salivation, while your vegetarian sister is an ______ CS for salivation.

Question 21

In delayed conditioning, the time between the onset of the NS and the onset of the US is called the ______interval (abbreviated ______).

Question 22

Describe, or diagram, the sequence of events in a reflex arc.

Question 23

A s ______ response is an automatic defensive response to a sudden, unexpected stimulus; the o ______ response is an elicited set of movements designed to facilitate attending to a stimulus.

Question 24

Different species of spiders spin different kinds of webs. Web spinning of this sort can thus be considered a sp___________-sp___________ behavior. Such behaviors used to be called i ______, but some researchers dislike this term because it implies that the behavior is more (flexible/inflexible) ______ than is actually the case.

Question 25

Learning to ignore the sound of dripping water is an example of ______; becoming increasingly aware of the sound of a jackhammer on the street below your apartment is an example of ______.

Question 26

From an evolutionary standpoint, if a stimulus is irrelevant or "safe," we tend to ______ to it, whereas if a stimulus is potentially dangerous we become to ______ it.

Question 27

The a-process is also known as the pr ______ process, and the b-process is also known as the o ______ process.

Question 28

Feeling elated while talking on the phone to someone with whom you are in love is an example of the______-______. Feeling lovesick after you finally hang up for the night is an example of the______-______.

Question 29

In the metronome example, the metronome is initially a(n) ______ stimulus because it (does/does not) ______ elicit salivation. The food, however, is a(n) ______ stimulus that elicits a(n) ______ response of salivation.

Question 30

Learning to associate the corner bar with the happy times you experience in that bar is an example of ______ conditioning.

Question 31

Most of the basic principles of classical conditioning have been established using procedures that involve ______ conditioning.

Question 32

In trace conditioning, the (onset/offset) ______ and ______ of the NS precedes the ______ of the US.

Question 33

Define fixed action pattern. What is a sign stimulus or releaser?

Question 34

Many simple reflexes are activated through a r ______ a ______ that consists of a(n) ______ neuron, a(n) ______ neuron, and a(n) ______ neuron (in that order).

Question 35

The fact that it has been several months since you noticed the sound of the fan in your home computer is an example of l ______-______ t habituation. Such habituation tends to build up (quickly/slowly) and disappear (quickly/slowly) ______.

Question 36

We often fail to ______ to stimuli (even if they are not actually dangerous) because our nervous system tends to "err on the side of caution" to keep us safe.

Question 37

During conditioning, the metronome can be labeled as either a(n) ______ stimulus or a(n) ______ stimulus.

Question 38

Learning to associate your refrigerator with the nauseating smell of spoiled food is an example of ______ conditioning.

Question 39

A conditioned excitatory stimulus (an excitatory CS) is one that is associated with the (presentation/removal) ______ of a US; a conditioned inhibitory stimulus (an inhibitory CS) is one that is associated with the (presentation/ removal) of a ______ US.

Question 40

In trace conditioning, the time between the ______ of the NS and the of the US is called the interval ______. Trace conditioning can be effective if this interval is relatively (long/short) ______.

Question 41

Define habituation and sensitization.

Question 42

Quickly jerking your hand or foot away from contact with an open flame or sharp object is a reflexive action known as a fl ______ response. In such cases, the perception of pain generally (precedes/follows) ______ the response.

Question 43

In general, sensitization is (less/more) ______ stimulus specific than habituation.

Question 44

Following conditioning, the metronome is a(n) ______ stimulus, and the salivation elicited by the metronome is a(n) ______ response.

Question 45

In a c ______ e ______ response (CER) paradigm, the level of fear elicited by a CS is indicated by the degree to which the rat's rate of lever pressing for food (decreases/increases) ______ in the presence of that stimulus.

Question 46

An excitatory CS for fear is one that will (elicit/suppress) ______ a fear response; an inhibitory CS for fear is one that will (elicit/suppress) ______ a fear response.

Question 47

In simultaneous conditioning, the of the NS occurs at the same time as the ______ of the US. Simultaneous conditioning usually results in (good/poor) ______ conditioning.

Question 48

What is the effect of high versus low versus moderate stimulus intensity on habituation and sensitization?

Question 49

The presentation of a novel stimulus during a period of habituation can sometimes result in dis ______, in which the habituated response (reappears/ disappears) ______.

Question 50

Each pairing of the metronome and the food is called a c ______ tr ______.

Question 51

The CER paradigm is also known as a c ______ s ______ procedure.

Question 52

For the residents of Berlin and London during World War II, an air-raid siren would have been a (CS+/CS-) ______ for anxiety, while the all-clear siren would have been a (CS+/CS-) ______ for anxiety.

Question 53

In backward conditioning, the (US/NS) ______ is presented first and the (US/NS) is presented later. Backward conditioning is generally considered to result in (good/poor) ______ conditioning.

Question 54

Distinguish between long-term and short-term habituation and give an example of each.

Question 55

Write out the term indicated by each of the following abbreviations:
CS: ______
UR: ______
NS: ______
US: ______
CR: ______

Question 56

The suppression ratio is the number of (pre-CS/CS/post-CS) ______ responses divided by the number of ______ responses plus the number of ______ responses.

Question 57

A click is followed by food, while a click and a buzzing noise is never followed by food. In this case, the click will become a (CS+/CS-) ______ for salivation and the buzzing noise will become a (CS+/CS-) ______.

Question 58

Backward conditioning can result in excitatory conditioning of fear when the NS is a b ______ relevant stimulus for fear. Backward conditioning can also result in inhibitory conditioning when the NS signals the (presentation/ removal) ______ of the US.

Question 59

Describe the evolutionary significance of habituation and sensitization.

Question 60

In the basic classical conditioning procedure, the (CS/US/NS) is ______ paired with the (CS/US/NS) ______, which in turn elicits the (CR/UR) ______. As a result, the first stimulus becomes a (CS/US/NS) ______, which elicits a (CR/UR) ______.

Question 61

Intense fear in a CER procedure will result in a suppression ratio of (.5/0) ______, whereas no fear will result in a suppression ratio of around ______.

Question 62

Suppose that we attempt to condition a reflex response of sneezing using a flower as the NS and pollen as the US. Name each of the four NS-US arrangements listed below.
a. ______ conditioning: Flower |- - - |
Pollen |______|
b. ______ conditioning: Flower |- - - |
Pollen |______|
c. ______ conditioning: Flower |- - - |
Pollen |______|
d. conditioning: Flower |- - - |
Pollen | |

Question 63

Describe the phenomenon of dishabituation.

Question 64

Using the appropriate abbreviations, label each component in the following diagram of a classical conditioning procedure:
Wasp: Painful sting ? Fear
Wasp ? Fear

Question 65

Define the opponent-process theory of emotion.

Question 66

Using the format in question 9, diagram a classical conditioning procedure involving the stimuli of "nurse" and "painful injection," and the response of "anxiety." Label each component using the appropriate abbreviations.

Question 67

List three main characteristics of opponent processes.

Question 68

The CR is (often/always) ______ (similar/identical) ______ to the UR.

Question 69

Define classical conditioning.

Question 70

A CR that appears identical to the UR is almost always (less/more) ______ intense.

Question 71

Diagram an example of a classical conditioning procedure. Be sure to label each component using the appropriate abbreviations.

Question 72

Define each of the following terms (do not worry if at this point you are forced to go back and look at the definitions).
Unconditioned stimulus:
Unconditioned response:
Conditioned stimulus:
Conditioned response:

Question 73

Define the terms unconditioned stimulus and unconditioned response.

Question 74

Define the terms conditioned stimulus and conditioned response.

Question 75

Distinguish between appetitive and aversive conditioning.

Question 76

Describe the conditioned suppression (or CER) procedure. How does one calculate a suppression ratio?

Question 77

Distinguish between excitatory and inhibitory conditioning.

Question 78

Name and diagram four temporal arrangements of the NS and US. Which two temporal arrangements of the NS and US are traditionally considered to be most effective?