LearningCurve 7a: What Is Learning; Classical Conditioning (LO 7.1-7.4)

habituation

A general process in which repeated or prolonged exposure to a stimulus results in a gradual reduction in responding.

conditioned stimulus (CS)

A previously neutral stimulus that produces a reliable response in an organism after being paired with a US.

biological preparedness

A propensity for learning particular kinds of associations over other kinds.

conditioned response (CR)

A reaction that resembles an unconditioned response but is produced by a conditioned stimulus.

unconditioned response (UR)

A reflexive reaction that is reliably produced by an unconditioned stimulus.

sensitization

A simple form of learning that occurs when presentation of a stimulus leads to an increased response to a later stimulus.

second-order conditioning

A type of learning in which a CS is paired with a stimulus that became associated with the US in an earlier procedure.

classical conditioning

A type of learning that occurs when a neutral stimulus produces a response after being paired with a stimulus that naturally produces a response.

unconditioned stimulus (US)

Something that reliably produces a naturally occurring reaction in an organism.

generalization

The CR is observed even though the CS is slightly different from the CS used during acquisition.

learning

The acquisition, from experience, of new knowledge, skills, or responses that results in a relatively permanent change in the state of the learner.

discrimination

The capacity to distinguish between similar but distinct stimuli.

extinction

The gradual elimination of a learned response that occurs when the CS is repeatedly presented without the US.

acquisition

The phase of classical conditioning when the CS and the US are presented together.

spontaneous recovery

The tendency of a learned behavior to recover from extinction after a rest period.