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The puzzling persistence of "neutral" conditioned stimuli
1Department of Psychology, University of Redlands, P.O. Box 3080, 1200 East Colton Avenue, Redlands, CA, 92373, USA.
Behavioural Processes
|July 30, 2018
Summary
Pavlovian conditioning does not require neutral stimuli. Instead, conditioned stimuli interact with an animal's innate sensitivities, influencing the conditioned response form.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- The traditional view of Pavlovian conditioning posits that neutral stimuli gain meaning through association with biologically relevant stimuli.
- This perspective faces challenges due to empirical evidence suggesting conditioned stimuli are not entirely neutral before conditioning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-evaluate the necessity of neutral stimuli in Pavlovian conditioning.
- To explore the role of conditioned stimulus characteristics in shaping conditioned responses.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing empirical data on Pavlovian conditioning.
- Analysis of studies examining the influence of conditioned stimulus type on conditioned response form.
Main Results:
- Empirical evidence contradicts the notion that conditioned stimuli are neutral prior to conditioning.
- Findings align with a behavior systems framework, where conditioned stimulus properties interact with evolved sensitivities.
Conclusions:
- Pavlovian conditioning can occur without initially neutral stimuli.
- Definitions of Pavlovian conditioning should be revised to exclude the concept of neutral stimuli, acknowledging the inherent properties of stimuli.