Deck 4: Classical Conditioning: Mechanisms

Question 1

Sensory preconditioning challenges the criterion of differential biological strength in associative learning due to which of the following?

A) Only the US has much biological strength in sensory preconditioning procedures.
B) Only the CS has much biological strength in sensory preconditioning procedures.
C) Neither of the stimuli being associated has much biological strength in sensory preconditioning procedures.
D) Both of the stimuli being associated have biological strength in sensory preconditioning procedures.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A researcher mistakenly makes the CS in his experiment slightly resemble a female quail in a study of sexual conditioning in male quail subjects.Due to this mistake,he is likely to find which of the following?

A) Conditioning proceeds more slowly because of CS pre-exposure effects.
B) Conditioning proceeds more rapidly because of increased salience.
C) Conditioning proceeds more slowly because of a lack of difference in biological strength between the CS and US.
D) There would be little effect because the US usually controls the rate of learning.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

According to studies of belongingness,rats conditioned with

A) illness learn a stronger aversion to audiovisual cues than to taste.
B) shock learn a stronger aversion to taste than to audiovisual cues.
C) illness learn a stronger aversion to taste than to audiovisual cues.
D) either shock or illness learn stronger aversions to audiovisual cues than to taste.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Increasing CS or US intensity has which of the following effects?

A) speeds associative learning and makes the final level of conditioned responding greater
B) speeds associative learning, but has little effect on the final level of conditioned responding
C) makes the final level of conditioned responding greater, but has little effect on the speed of associative learning
D) has little effect on the speed of associative learning or the final level of conditioned responding

Question 5

Which of the following best represents how pigeons learn about food as compared to peripheral pain?

A) Pigeons associate food cues most readily with auditory cues; pain with visual cues.
B) Pigeons associate food cues most readily with visual cues: pain with auditory cues.
C) Pigeons associate food and pain most readily with visual cues.
D) Pigeons associate food and pain most readily with auditory cues.

Question 6

Higher-order conditioning demonstrates which of the following?

A) After training, a CS can function as a US.
B) After training, a US can function as a CS.
C) CSs cannot function as USs.
D) USs cannot function as CSs.

Question 7

Which of the following is a function of preexposure to the CS or the US?

A) has little effect on later associative learning
B) facilitates later associative learning
C) retards later associative learning
D) CS-preexposure facilitates later associative learning; US preexposure retards later learning.

Question 8

In a study with cocaine-using human subjects,cues associated with cocaine use elicited heart rate increases and negative changes in mood.These findings support which of the following?

A) the stimulus substitution model
B) the compensatory-response model
C) the S-R learning model
D) These findings are not consistent with any of the presented models.

Question 9

A rat is given 20 exposures to a red light cue.Then,the red light is presented paired with food delivery.Compared to a rat that did not receive the initial 20 exposures,this rat took a long time to develop a CR to the red light.The slower learning is due to

A) the US-preexposure effect.
B) the latent-inhibition effect.
C) the latent-excitation effect.
D) the CS relevance effect.

Question 10

In a sign tracking experiment,one group of pigeons will be trained with a water US,another with a food US.In a comparison of conditioned responding,you expect to find that pecking will develop in which of the following?

A) the food US group but not the water US group
B) the water US group but not the food US group
C) both groups, but pecking movements will be slower in the water US group
D) both groups, but pecking movements will be slower in the food US group

Question 11

According to the stimulus-substitution model,with training which of the following happens?

A) The CS comes to activate the UR directly.
B) The CR comes to activate the UR directly.
C) The CS activates the UR via excitation of US centers.
D) The CR activates the US via excitation of the UR centers.

Question 12

The stimulus substitution model predicts which of the following?

A) The general form of the CR will be similar to the form of the UR.
B) The general form of the CR will be different from the form of the UR.
C) The response to the CS will be identical to the response to the US.
D) The response to the CS will be stronger than the response to the US.

Question 13

From the selection below,select the true statement about stimuli.

A) Identification of CSs and USs is relative.
B) Identification of CSs is relative, but USs do not need reference to other stimuli.
C) Identification of USs is relative, but CSs do not need reference to other stimuli.
D) Identification of CSs and USs does not rely on reference to other stimuli.

Question 14

In a study with cocaine-using human subjects in the text,which of the following was found to be true?

A) Cues associated with heroin use elicited heart-rate increases and positive changes in mood; cues associated with cocaine use elicited heart rate decreases and positive changes in mood.
B) Cues associated with heroin use elicited heart-rate decreases and positive changes in mood; cues associated with cocaine use elicited heart rate increases and negative changes in mood.
C) Cues associated with heroin use had little effect; cues associated with cocaine use elicited heart rate increases and positive changes in mood.
D) Cues associated with heroin use had little effect; cues associated with cocaine use elicited heart rate increases and negative changes in mood.

Question 15

Research into the role of the US in determining the nature of the CR suggests which of the following is true?

A) The US is important to the form of the CR only if different CSs are used.
B) The US only determines if the CR is an approach or avoidance response.
C) The US only determines if the CR is vigorous or weak.
D) The US determines many aspects of the CR, including very specific aspects of mouth and tongue movements.

Question 16

According to Pavlov,associative learning occurs most readily when which of the following is true?

A) The biological strength of the CS is greater than that of the US.
B) The biological strength of the US is greater than that of the CS.
C) The biological strengths of the CR and UR are about the same.
D) The biological strengths of the CR and UR are initially low.

Question 17

Belongingness effects have been demonstrated to reflect which of the following?

A) extensive experience with the stimuli
B) sensitization effects of CS preexposure
C) sensitization effects of US preexposure
D) genetic predispostions

Question 18

The drug dinitrophenol causes increased oxygen consumption.According to the compensatory-response model,which of the following is true regarding exposure to cues associated with dinitrophenol?

A) will also increase oxygen consumption
B) will decrease oxygen consumption
C) will not alter oxygen consumption
D) will not actually alter oxygen consumption, but subjects will report a change in the affective aspects of oxygen consumption

Question 19

Your friend is afraid of dogs because he was bitten as a child.One day while he was playing catch in a park,a large pack of dogs wandered into his view.Now he avoids parks.His change in behavior is likely due to which of the following?

A) habituated associations
B) CS intensity
C) higher-order conditioning
D) US intensity

Question 20

The compensatory-response model challenges the stimulus substitution model because it suggests which of the following?

A) The CR and UR can be the same form and the same strength.
B) The CR and UR can be the same form but not the same strength.
C) The CR and UR can be opposing in form.
D) The CR and UR are unrelated.

Question 21

Using the Rescorla-Wager model,predict V of stimulus B during conditioning trials with compound stimulus A/B when the associative value of A at the beginning of the trial is l and the associative value of B at the beginning of the trial is l.

A) l
B) 1/2 l
C) 0
D) < 0

Question 22

Results from sexual conditioning studies in which CS-US intervals of varying durations were compared indicate which of the following?

A) The CS comes to substitute for the US.
B) The CR comes to oppose the UR.
C) The CS comes to compensate for the UR.
D) The CS comes to substitute for a stimulus in the behavior system.

Question 23

Hungry pigeons are presented with numerous tone-food pairings.The same birds are then presented with keylight-tone pairings and begin to peck at the keylight.Once keypecking develops,the birds are allowed to eat freely.Their keypeck behavior does not change.This suggests their response to the key is mediated by

A) S-S learning.
B) S-R learning.
C) R-R learning.
D) R-S learning.

Question 24

In the second phase of a blocking experiment,which of the following occurs?

A) Both groups receive the same treatment.
B) The experimental group receives exposure to a compound stimulus; the control group receives exposure to a single stimulus.
C) The experimental group receives exposure to a single stimulus; the control group receives exposure to a compound stimulus.
D) The experimental group receives exposure to a compound stimulus; the control group does not receive any further training.

Question 25

According to Kamin,the blocking effect occurs because of which choice below?

A) Stimulus B fully predicts the US, and the subject habituates to stimulus A.
B) Stimulus B predicts the US, and the subject is not surprised by the arrival of the US in later trials.
C) Stimulus A predicts the US, and the subject is not surprised by the arrival of the US in later trials.
D) Stimulus A does not predict the US, and the animal is startled by the arrival of the US in later trials.

Question 26

According to Kamin,surprisingness of the US is important in classical conditioning procedures because of which of the following?

A) It stimulates the mental effort needed to form associations.
B) It startles the subject and blocks new learning about stimulus A.
C) It startles the subject and blocks new learning about stimulus B.
D) It startles the subject and blocks new learning about stimulus A and stimulus B.

Question 27

Using the Rescorla-Wager model,predict V of stimulus B during conditioning trials with compound stimulus A/B when the associative value of A at the beginning of the trial is 1/2 l and the associative value of B at the beginning of the trial is 1/2 l.

A) 0
B) 1/4 l
C) 1/2 l
D) l

Question 28

Short CS-US intervals elicit _____ behavior.Longer CS-US intervals elicit _____ behavior.

A) focal search; consummatory
B) general search; consummatory
C) focal search; general search
D) general search; focal search

Question 29

How might a researcher determine whether conditioned responding is due to S-S or S-R learning?

A) run test trials with a novel CS
B) run test trials with a novel US
C) change the value of the CS
D) change the value of the US

Question 30

According to the behavior systems model,which of the following is true regarding the form of the CR?

A) It will be similar to that of the UR.
B) It will oppose the form of the UR.
C) It will be mediated by the intertrial interval.
D) It will be mediated by the interstimulus interval.

Question 31

A red light that signals footshock causes rats to freeze if the interstimulus interval is 10 seconds,but causes the rats to jump in a fighting posture if very short interstimulus intervals are used.This conditioned behavior is best predicted by which of the following?

A) the behavioral systems model
B) the stimulus substitution model
C) belongingness
D) the compensatory response model

Question 32

When live rats were used as the CS in Pavlovian food conditioning trials presented to other,subject rats,the subject rats treated the CS rats in a manner

A) predicted by the stimulus substitution model.
B) predicted by the compensatory-response model.
C) predicted by the US devaluation learning model.
D) not predicted by any of the other answers presented here.

Question 33

Chicks presented with a lighted disk signaling warmth pecked at the disk,pushed the disk,and shook their heads in a snuggling manner.Their response to the heat was to nap.The conditioned response to the disk is best predicted by which of the following?

A) the stimulus substitution model
B) the compensatory response model
C) the behavioral systems model
D) the belongingness model

Question 34

Kamin's blocking experiment demonstrates that classical conditioning occurs only when

A) the CS is unexpected.
B) the US is unexpected.
C) the CS is expected.
D) the US is expected.

Question 35

Thirsty pigeons are presented with keylight-water pairings and begin to peck the keylight.Once keypecking develops,the birds are allowed to drink freely.Their keypeck behavior drops off dramatically.This suggests their response to the key is mediated by

A) S-S learning.
B) S-R learning.
C) second-order conditioning.
D) R-R learning.

Question 36

The blocking effect demonstrates which of the following?

A) that temporal contiguity is sufficient for associative learning
B) that CS-US pairings are sufficient for associative learning
C) that contiguity and CS-US pairings, when they occur together, are sufficient for associative learning
D) that CS-US pairings are insufficient for associative learning

Question 37

Using the Rescorla-Wager model,predict V of stimulus B during conditioning trials with compound stimulus A/B when the associative value of A at the beginning of the trial is l and the associative value of B at the beginning of the trial is 0.

A) 0
B) 1/4 l
C) 1/2 l
D) l

Question 38

Each of two stimuli fully predicts the presentation of a food pellet when presented alone.When the two stimuli are presented together followed by a food pellet,the associative value

A) of both stimuli increases.
B) of both stimuli decreases.
C) of both stimuli remains the same.
D) of one stimulus decreases while the other decreases.

Question 39

US-devaluation experiments suggest that for many first-order conditioning procedures,which of the following is true?

A) The stimulus-substitution model is correct.
B) The CS activates the CR directly.
C) The CS activates the UR directly.
D) The CS activates a US representation.

Question 40

Studies that have used live rats as the CS paired with a food-US on trials presented to other rats demonstrate which of the following?

A) The shape of the CR can be determined by the UR.
B) The shape of the CR can be determined by the US.
C) The shape of the CR can be determined by the CS.
D) The shape of the CR can be independent of other stimuli.

Question 41

Using the Rescorla-Wagner model,explain the development of conditioned inhibition.

Question 42

Which of the following correctly states the importance of time in conditioning procedures?

A) The duration of the CS-US interval determines conditioned responding.
B) The duration of the intertrial interval determines conditioned responding.
C) The relative durations of the intertrial interval and the CS-US interval determine conditioned responding.
D) The best conditioning occurs when trials quickly follow one another.

Question 43

Compare general and focal search responses in the sexual behavior system.How does the behavior systems theory account for the different conditional responses that develop as a result of different ISIs in sexual conditioning experiments?

Question 44

According to the Rescorla-Wagner model,inhibition is which of the following?

A) the opposite of excitation
B) the same as excitation
C) unrelated to excitation
D) unpredictable with the model

Question 45

What evidence suggests that drug tolerance may be in part due to classical conditioning mechanisms? Does this evidence challenge stimulus substitution models?

Question 46

The Rescorla-Wagner model assigns the associative value of _____ to a stimulus that is a fully conditioned inhibitor.

A) l
B) 1/2 l
C) 0
D) -l

Question 47

According to the Rescorla-Wagner model,extinction is which of the following?

A) learning a new association
B) imposing an inhibitory stimulus on an excitatory stimulus
C) undoing a conditioned association
D) a process of habituation

Question 48

The comparator hypothesis predicts that the best means of extinguishing inhibitory responding is to

A) present the CS+ with the US.
B) present the CS+ alone.
C) present the CS- alone.
D) present the CS+ and CS- together.

Question 49

Detail how the CS,the US,and the timing of the presentation of these stimuli can affect classically conditioned responding.

Question 50

Provide two examples of belongingness in classical conditioning.

Question 51

Describe a higher-order conditioning situation from common human experience.Make sure you note the initial CS and US.

Question 52

Which model suggests that the CS is only informative if the subject has to wait less time for the US when the CS is present than if it is not present?

A) the Rescorla-Wagner model
B) the Pearce and Hall attentional model
C) the comparator hypothesis
D) the relative-waiting-time hypothesis

Question 53

According to Pearce and Hall,the attention paid to the CS is determined by which of the following?

A) the surprisingness of the US on the previous trial
B) the surprisingness of the US on the current trial
C) the predicted surprisingness of the US on the next trial
D) None of the above

Question 54

What is the blocking effect? Provide two theoretical mechanisms for the blocking effect.

Question 55

Compare associative interference and memory interference mechanisms of CS and US preexposure effects.

Question 56

A major difference between attentional models and the Rescorla-Wagner model is described by which of the following choices?

A) In attentional models, US surprisingness has only a proactive influence on conditioning.
B) In the Rescorla-Wagner model, US surprisingness has only a proactive influence on conditioning.
C) Attentional models are US-reduction theories.
D) The Rescorla-Wagner model cannot predict blocking on the first trial of Phase 2 of the blocking experiment.

Question 57

How do current approaches to stimulus substitution differ from Pavlov's approach?

Question 58

Why is CS novelty important to consider in classical conditioning situations? What are the mechanisms that underlie CS-preexposure effects?

Question 59

The stimulus substitution model suggests that neural pathways,developed during conditioning trials,allow the CS to elicit the UR.What evidence supports this theory? What evidence is used to refute the stimulus substitution model?

Question 60

Which model suggests that whether conditioned responding reflects excitation or inhibition depends on the excitatory value of the CS and the excitatory value of contextual cues present during training?

A) the Rescorla-Wagner model
B) the comparator hypothesis
C) attentional models
D) temporal models

Question 61

Describe the basic idea of the Rescorla-Wagner model.What aspect of the model allows it to explain the blocking effect and make some unusual predictions?

Question 62

What,if any,limits are there on the kinds of stimuli that can serve as conditioned and unconditioned stimuli in Pavlovian conditioning?

Question 63

In what respects are attentional theories of learning different from other theories?

Question 64

What is the basic assumption of rate estimation theory?

Question 65

How can Pavlovian conditioning mechanisms explain drug tolerance and what are some of the implications of these mechanisms?

Question 66

Compare the relative-waiting-time hypothesis and the comparator hypothesis.Include the similarities and differences of the theories and each theory's strengths and weaknesses.

Question 67

How can you distinguish between S-R and S-S learning experimentally?

Question 68

How does the comparator hypothesis explain the blocking effect?