6. Classical Conditioning II: Temporal Contiguity is not Enough

Common perception suggests that animals learn best when two events are closely presented in time. However, an experiment discussed in the "Pavlovian Conditioning - it's not what you think it is by Robert Rescorla" shows otherwise. Also, the idea of there being some CSs that have closer relationship with some US also challenge the perception of temporal contiguity being the the most important.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• learning
• and
• behavior
• psychology
• robert
• rescorla
• upenn
• temporal
• contiguity
• pavlovian
• CS
• belongingness

[claudiahoyle]

I think I am confused so you are explaining that continguity in time (the closer they are the better) between CS and US is necessary or not. I got confused because it looks like in the descriptive text you challenge that but in the video you show otherwise? Thanks

[flybybutterflies]

@claudiahoyle Hi Claudia, in the video too I explained that CS and US contiguity is not enough. Look at the experiment A and B, in both of them, the CS is always followed by the US. But in experiment B, something is different, and that is that sometimes the US occurs without the CS. It's sort of like, I can always present light and food very close in time, but if sometimes food occurs randomly, I am not going to learn that the light is a good predictor of food.

[claudiahoyle]

@claudiahoyle Ah I get it know!! so in order for a light to actually predict food all the time food should not be presented outside the presentation of the light first, is that it?

[flybybutterflies]

@claudiahoyle yes. :)

[claudiahoyle]

@flybybutterflies Ah! Thanks so much!