Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning is a behavioral procedure in which a biologically potent physiological stimulus (e.g. food) is paired with a neutral stimulus (e.g. the sound of a bell). As the association solidifies, is the ringing bell still “just” a marker symbolizing impending pleasure, or does it become pleasurable itself? Elegant work related to the mesolimbic pathway shows that in a substantial subset of rats, the arbitrary signal itself becomes rewarding.
Classical conditioning is distinct from operant conditioning through which the strength of a voluntary behavior is modified, , either by reinforcement or by punishment, however, classical conditioning can affect operant conditioning; that classically conditioned stimuli can reinforce operant responses.
References
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Sapolsky, Robert. (2017). Behave Chapter 11. Us Versus Them (p. 444). New York, NY: Penguin Random House.
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Type:🔵 Tags: Psychology Status:☀️