Classical Conditioning

Ivan Petrovich Pavlov a famous Russian scientist is commonly known for his contribution in the physiological field regarding mammal digestive system mechanisms. His work made him recognized globally and the positive impact on science made him a winner of the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1904. Afterwards, he turned to the study of the laws of development of conditioned reflexes which is significant in the science of behavior commonly referred to as classical conditioning. It is a process of learning that occurs when two stimuli are provoked together repeatedly and eventually a response that was stimulated by first stimulus is stimulated by the second stimulus.

Initially on his study of classical conditioning Pavlov realized the signals that are triggered by the digestive phenomena such as salivating in dogs when they encounter meat. He first noted that dogs drooled without an appropriate stimulus especially on seeing the lab coats that the person who served them meat used to wear. Also, on striking the bell just before the dogs are served for a long while made them adopted to it and they would drool anytime the bell is rang. It come to a conclusion that animals generally adapt to stimuli favorable for their survival and food is an example of natural conditioned stimulus.

The important principle discovered regards extinction. It states that conditioned response decreases in intensity if the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly elicited without the unconditional stimulus which in the dogs’ case is food. Conditioning is essential in the study of human behavior and it has been significant to commercial advertising. The aim of working out people to make connection between positive emotions and the reaction of a particular brand. Pavlov has played a vital role in physiology as the fore father of the classical conditioning knowledge which is essential not only in the science field but also in commercialization.

Classical conditioning
Design two-three classical or operant conditioning experiments

find at least one (1) review paper that provides the background for your experiment. Exercises in Sniffy the Virtual Rat can give your ideas for experiments. In aIDition to the design of the experiment and the results, your paper might aIDress the other questions:

€¢What is the significance of this topic? (or, Why would anyone bother to conduct those experiments anyway)?

Do your data provide evidence for or against the theoretical explanations in this area?

How does Sniffy behavior relate to human behavior and thinking?
These questions are suggested to focus your thinking. You are neither limited to them nor required to aIDress each one. Unlike traditional term paper, Sniffy paper should concentrate on design of your experiment and the results, as well as on the implications of the results.