Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
07:37
Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness
Published on: August 1, 2017
Classical conditioning in the vegetative and minimally conscious state
Tristan A Bekinschtein1, Diego E Shalom, Cecilia Forcato
1Institute of Cognitive Neurology, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tristan.bekinschtein@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk
Nature Neuroscience
|September 22, 2009
Summary
Individuals with disorders of consciousness (DOCs) can learn Pavlovian trace conditioning, showing preserved conscious processing. This learning, measured by anticipatory responses, indicates potential awareness beyond explicit reports and correlates with recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Neurology
Background:
- Pavlovian trace conditioning assesses awareness by requiring knowledge of stimulus timing.
- It relies on medial temporal lobe structures and explicit contingency awareness in humans.
- It is considered a potential objective measure of awareness in non-communicative individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if individuals with disorders of consciousness (DOCs) can learn Pavlovian trace conditioning.
- To determine if this learning reflects preserved conscious processing.
- To explore the relationship between learning, cortical atrophy, and recovery in DOCs.
Main Methods:
- Pavlovian trace conditioning was administered to individuals with DOCs.
- Electromyographic responses to conditioned and control stimuli were measured.
- Effects were compared to healthy controls under propofol anesthesia.
Main Results:
- Individuals with DOCs demonstrated specific learning, with anticipatory electromyographic responses to the aversive stimulus.
- Learning was augmented as the aversive stimulus approached and correlated with cortical atrophy.
- No such effects were observed in anesthetized control subjects.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with DOCs may possess partially preserved conscious processing undetectable by explicit reports or standard behavioral assessments.
- Pavlovian trace conditioning offers a potential objective measure for assessing awareness in DOCs.
- The degree of learning may serve as an indicator of potential recovery.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Classical Conditioning in Daily Life
Classical conditioning, a fundamental principle of associative learning, explains various phenomena observed in daily life, such as fear development, the placebo effect, taste aversion, and drug habituation. These applications demonstrate the profound impact of associative learning on human behavior and physiological responses.
John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner famously demonstrated the development of fear through classical conditioning in their experiment with Little Albert. They paired the...
John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner famously demonstrated the development of fear through classical conditioning in their experiment with Little Albert. They paired the...
01:18Classical Conditioning
Associative learning, a core principle in behavioral psychology, involves forming connections between events and facilitating learned responses. This concept is vividly illustrated by classical conditioning, a process extensively studied by the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov. Pavlov's pioneering research on dogs' digestive systems led to the discovery that behaviors can be learned through association, laying the groundwork for classical conditioning.
Ivan Pavlov observed that dogs salivated...
Ivan Pavlov observed that dogs salivated...
01:23Principles of Classical Conditioning
Classical conditioning, as described by Ivan Pavlov, is a foundational concept in associative learning, where a neutral stimulus becomes capable of eliciting a conditioned response through association with an unconditioned stimulus. The process of acquisition, where this learning occurs, and the subsequent phenomena of contiguity, contingency, generalization, discrimination, extinction, and spontaneous recovery are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of classical conditioning.
During the...
During the...
01:15Subconsciousness and No Awareness
The concept of subconscious awareness refers to the processing of information below the level of conscious thought, which significantly influences both behaviors and decisions. It is also known as waking subconscious awareness. This complex level of cognition operates without the direct awareness of the individual, facilitating rapid and simultaneous handling of multiple information streams.
An illustrative example of subconscious processing is its role in problem-solving. Often, individuals...
An illustrative example of subconscious processing is its role in problem-solving. Often, individuals...
01:15Real-World Application of Classical Conditioning
Classical conditioning not only includes the initial pairing of stimuli but also extends to more complex forms, such as higher-order conditioning. Higher-order conditioning involves creating associations beyond the primary conditioned stimulus, resulting in a chain of conditioned responses.
Higher-order, or second-order, conditioning occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an already established conditioned stimulus through repeated pairings. For instance, if a dog has been...
Higher-order, or second-order, conditioning occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an already established conditioned stimulus through repeated pairings. For instance, if a dog has been...
01:27Associative Learning
Associative learning is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology, wherein a connection is established between two stimuli or events, leading to a learned response. This process is critical in understanding how behaviors are acquired and modified. Conditioning, the mechanism through which associations are formed, can be divided into two main types: classical conditioning and operant conditioning, each elucidating different aspects of associative learning.
Classical conditioning, also known...
Classical conditioning, also known...