Classical Conditioning
Pavlov's Apparatus
Harness and fistula (mouth tube) help keep dog in a consistent position and gather uncontaminated saliva samples. They do not cause the dog discomfort. (Carlson, 1997)
Terms Specific to Classical Conditioning
Elicit: Elicit means to produce, cause or evoke a response.
Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS): The prefix "un" means not; conditioned means learned; stimulus means person, place, object, event, or physical energy; therefore, an unconditioned stimulus is any stimulus which does not require learning in order to elicit or cause a behavior.
Unconditioned Response (UCR): An unconditioned response is the response that is automatically elicited, produced, caused or evoked by the Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS). No learning takes place when the UCS is presented. The UCR may be a reflex produced by the UCS. Reflexes are simple, unlearned, involuntary responses.
Conditioned Stimulus (CS): A conditioned stimulus is initially neutral. Initially, the conditioned stimulus is not capable of eliciting, producing, causing, or evoking a conditioned response. After learning takes place, the CS elicits the conditioned response (CR).
Conditioned Response (CR): A conditioned response (CR) is a response that is learned. The learning takes place because the UCS and the CS are associated together. Later, the CS comes to take on a similar capability of eliciting the CR which is similar to the UCR.
Explaining the words "conditioned" and conditional" In the Russian language, Pavlov used the adjective "uslovna" which is more properly translated "conditional" and not "conditioned". However, with the English translation, the use of the terms conditioned stimulus and conditioned response has become accepted.