Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training, Volume 1 by Adaptation; Learning

Author:Adaptation; Learning
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-11-10T00:07:14+00:00

208

CHAPTER SIX

ability of US is higher during CS than at other

dently of the presence or absence of the CS,

times, excitatory condition occurs; when the

the CS is neutralized (Rescorla, 1967).

probability is lower, inhibitory conditioning re-

Rescorla’s important discovery suggests that

sults. Notice that the probability of a US can

classical conditioning is a contingency-based

be the same in the absence and presence of CS

process in which the CS functions as a statis-

and yet there can be a fair number of CS-US

tically informative signal about the probabil-

pairings. It is this that makes it possible to as-

sess the relative importance of pairing and

ity of the occurrence or nonoccurrence of the

contingency in the development of a CR.

US (Fig. 6.4).

(1968:1)

As a supplement or correction to the con-

tiguity theory, the contingency theory pro-

Rescorla interprets conditioning from a cog-

vides a coherent and elegant way to describe

nitive viewpoint attributing both predictive

what takes place during classical condition-

and informative properties to the CS. The

ing. Besides predicting the occurrence of the

model places equal importance on the pres-

US, the CS also provides information about

ence as well as the absence of the CS in rela-

the type and size (magnitude) of the antici-

tion to the occurrence of the US. According

pated UR, as well as various significant con-

to Rescorla, associative conditioning depends

textual relations between the occurrence of

on a predictive contingency (both positive

the CS and CR. But, as Rescorla writes, “It is

and negative) holding between the CS and

not only temporal and logical relations

US. If the US occurs regardless of the pres-

among events that are important to condi-

ence or absence of the CS (i.e., the US occurs

tioning. Conditioning is also sensitive to rela-

independently of the CS), then in spite of

tions involving the properties of the events

many chance pairings between the CS and

themselves” (1988:153).

US (all being offset by an equal number of

Formulating predictions about such infor-

US events occurring without the CS), no ef-

mation requires that the CS be somehow as-

fective conditioning takes place. Under con-

sociatively linked with the US eliciting the

ditions in which the US occurs indepen-

UR. The so-called stimulus-stimulus (S-S)

1.0

.9

Excitatory conditioning

.8

No conditioning

.7

.6

.5

(US/CS) p .4

Inhibitory conditioning

.3

.2

.1

.1

.2

.3

.4

.5

.6

.7

.8

.9

1.0

p (US/no CS)

FIG. 6.4. Probability ( p) space describing excitatory and inhibitory conditioning. CS, conditioned stimulus; US, unconditioned stimulus.

Classical Conditioning

209

theory of classical conditioning asserts that

sical conditioning also yields information

the connection between CS and US events is

about the size and type of anticipated stimula-

mediated by control centers in the brain, per-

tion. According to Rescorla, the size or mag-

haps corresponding to Gray’s septal-hip-

nitude of the CR depends on the associative

pocampal comparator system, “a system

strength acquired by the CS together with the

which, moment to moment predicts the next

stimulus intensity of the original US. For in-

likely event and compares this prediction to

stance, a CS paired with an electric shock will

the actual event” (Gray, 1991:112) (see

yield a stronger avoidance response than a

Chapter 3).

similar CS paired with a light slap on the

Predictions about the size of the US are

hands. Additionally, the magnitude of the CR

estimated along an excitatory-inhibitory di-

is influenced by the salience of the eliciting

mension. If the CS underestimates the size of

CS. For instance, a softly spoken reprimand

the pending US, excitatory learning takes

will yield only a small response from a dog,

place ( acquisition).

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