Pavlov's Dogs

• Aim of Pavlov's Dogs

  To study natural associations between stimuli + reflex responses in organisms, specifically dogs
• Procedure of Pavlov's Dogs

  35 dogs, immobilised in chamber, eliminating sounds, smells, sights

  Tested the US (Meat)

  Tested the NS (Metronome)

  Metronome study: 

  1-Paired metronome and food x20

  2- Paired CS (Metronome) with NS (buzzer)

  3- Electric buzzer BEFORE meat (Forward conditioning)

  • Electric buzzer AFTER meat (backward conditioning)

  Variations: Extinction and Spontaneous recovery
• Findings of Pavlov's Dogs

  Testing the US (meat) = Immediate Salvation

  Testing the NS (metronome) = no response

  Metronome Study: =

  1-Salivation started after 9 seconds, 11 drops had been collected by 54 seconds

  2- Found secondary conditioning

  3- Found forward conditioning, not backward conditioning

  Variations: Extinction and Spontaneous recovery = Extinction and Spontaneous recovery was found/supported
• Conclusions

  ‘Signalisation’ in the brain links the metronome sound with food leading to salivation (NS becomes CS) and (CS-> CR)