Classical conditioning

• Classical conditioning is creating new learning when a neutral stimulus is consistently paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
• Classical conditioning was suggested by Pavlov following his work with digestion in dogs.
• Pavlov’s dogs, restrained in an experimental chamber, were presented with meat powder whilst having their saliva collected via a surgically implanted tube in their saliva glands.
• The dogs would salivate at the sight of food. This is an innate, automatic reaction. The food acts as the unconditioned stimulus (UCS). The salivation is the unconditioned response (UCR).
• Pavlov paired the meat powder with various stimuli such as the ringing of a bell. After the meat powder and bell were presented together several times, the bell was used alone.
• In Pavlov's experiment the bell eventually became the conditioned stimulus (CS).
• At the beginning of Pavlov's study the bell was a neutral stimulus (NS) and had no impact on the dogs response.
• Before conditioning, we have automatic, innate responses to stimuli.
• During conditioning, we learn to make new associations.
• After conditioning a new conditioned stimulus is associated with the now conditioned response.
• • In Pavlov's experiment at the beginning the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) was the food.
• In Pavlov's experiment at the beginning the unconditioned response (UCR) was to salivate.
• During Pavlov's experiment the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) was paired with the neutral stimulus (NS) over time.
• After Pavlov's experiment at the neutral stimulus (NS) becomes the conditioned stimulus (CS), creating a conditioned response (CR).