Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 16, 2026
11:20
Recording Single Neurons' Action Potentials from Freely Moving Pigeons Across Three Stages of Learning
Published on: June 2, 2014
12.5K
Temporal specificity in Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer
Matthew S Matell1, Rebecca B Della Valle1
1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085, USA.
Learning & Memory (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.)
|December 17, 2017
Summary
Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer shows that conditioned stimuli alter operant responding rates. This study reveals that the timing of conditioned stimuli influences response rates, reflecting learned temporal expectancies.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral neuroscience
- Learning and memory
- Animal behavior
Background:
- Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT) describes how conditioned stimuli (CS) affect operant responding.
- Temporal organization of behavior is known in Pavlovian conditioning, but its role in PIT is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temporal dynamics of operant responding during PIT.
- To examine how established temporal expectancies influence PIT effects.
Main Methods:
- Rats were trained on appetitive Pavlovian tasks with fixed time (FT) 60-sec, FT 120-sec, or random time (RT) 60-sec schedules.
- The effect of presenting a visual or auditory CS on operant responding was measured.
Main Results:
- CS presentation potentiated operant responding in a manner reflecting learned temporal expectancies.
- This temporal specificity adhered to the scalar property of interval timing.
- The effect was observed with visual CS but not auditory CS.
Conclusions:
- Motivational processes triggered by Pavlovian cues are not static but fluctuate based on temporal reward expectancies.
- Temporal expectancies play a crucial role in modulating behavior during Pavlovian-instrumental transfer.
- The modality of the conditioned stimulus (visual vs. auditory) can influence the manifestation of PIT.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Principles of Classical Conditioning
2.2K
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...
2.2K
01:18Classical Conditioning
2.6K
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...
Ivan Pavlov observed that dogs...
2.6K
01:08Timing and Consequences on Behavior
452
In operant conditioning, the timing of reinforcement is crucial. For animals like rats and cats, immediate reinforcement (within a few seconds) is much more effective than delayed reinforcement. For example, a food reward for a rat needs to follow within 30 seconds of pressing a bar to be effective.
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant...
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant...
452
01:28Behaviorism
5.8K
The field of behaviorism was pioneered by figures such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner fundamentally shifted the focus of psychology to the observable and controllable aspects of human and animal behavior. This shift marked a critical evolution in the discipline, emphasizing scientific rigor and experimental methodology.
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
5.8K
01:05Instinctive Drift
845
Instinctive drift refers to the tendency of animals to revert to their innate behaviors despite repeated reinforcement. Breland and Breland demonstrated this concept in an experiment with a raccoon. The raccoon was trained to pick up two coins and place them in a container in exchange for food. Initially, the raccoon learned to associate the coins with food, making them a conditioned stimulus or a substitute for food. However, over time, the raccoon became less willing to put the coins into the...
845
01:24Generalization, Discrimination, and Extinction
1.5K
Generalization, discrimination, and extinction are key concepts in operant conditioning that influence how behaviors are learned and maintained.
Generalization occurs when a behavior reinforced in one context is performed in similar situations. For instance, a student who studies diligently for calculus and receives excellent grades might apply the same study habits to psychology and history, expecting similar results. Generalization shows how learning in one setting can influence behavior in...
Generalization occurs when a behavior reinforced in one context is performed in similar situations. For instance, a student who studies diligently for calculus and receives excellent grades might apply the same study habits to psychology and history, expecting similar results. Generalization shows how learning in one setting can influence behavior in...
1.5K