Brent Cornell

    
Conditioning is a process of behaviour modification whereby desired behaviours become associated with unrelated stimuli

• This process can be achieved via either classical (reflex) conditioning or operant (instrumental) conditioning
  

Reflex conditioning involves placing a neutral signal before a reflex in order to create an association between the two

• Reflex conditioning focuses on involuntary and autonomic behaviours
• It involves associating a desired behaviour with a new stimulus

Operant conditioning involves applying reinforcement or punishment after a behaviour to increase or reduce its occurrence

• Operant conditioning focuses on strengthening or weakening voluntary behaviours
• It involves associating a particular behaviour with a specific consequence (either reward or punishment)

    
Reflex Conditioning

Reflex conditioning was first described by Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist who experimented on dogs

• Dogs normally salivate (unconditioned response) in anticipation of being fed (unconditioned stimulus)
• Pavlov sounded a bell (neutral stimulus) prior to feeding a dog
• After many repetitions, the dog came to associate the bell with food and began to salivate to the bell (conditioned response)
• Pavlov described this as a conditioned reflex – the stimulus that prompted the response had been changed

Reflex Conditioning in Dogs

    
Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning was first described by B. F. Skinner, an American psychologist who experimented on rats

• Rats were placed in a controlled chamber (called a Skinner box) that contained a responsive lever
• The pushing of the lever by the rat was accidental but resulted in several possible outcomes, including:
  • The delivery of food in response to light (desirable outcome = positive reinforcement)
  • The silencing of a loud noise from a speaker (desirable outcome = negative reinforcement)
  • The activation of an electrified floor if not pressed in response to light (negative outcome = punishment)
• By trial and error, the mice learned to press the lever in response to the different environmental contexts

Operant Conditioning in Rats