This combined survey of operant and classical conditioning provides professional and academic readers with an up-to-date, inclusive account of a core field of psychology research, with in-depth coverage of the basic theory, its applications, and current topics including behavioral economics. Provides comprehensive coverage of operant and classical conditioning, relevant fundamental theory, and applications including the latest techniques Features chapters by leading researchers, professionals, and academicians Reviews a range of core literature on conditioning Covers cutting-edge topics such as behavioral economics
Since the appearance of the treatise on "Schedules of Reinforcement" by Ferster and Skinner over two decades ago, the literature in behavior analysis, both experimental and applied, has been dominated by a range of studies dedi cated to providing ever more systematic and refined accounts of these "mainsprings of behavior control. " For the most part, the analysis has been pursued in the best traditions of "scientific methodology" with careful atten tion to the isolation of controlling variables in unitary form. Of late, relatively simple interaction effects have provided an important additional focus for more sophisticated analyses. It is clear, however, from even a cursory survey of the monumental research and conceptual analysis which is represented in this scholarly volume by Henton and Iversen that the surface ofthis complex "be havioral interactions" domain has barely been scratched. The primary focus of this pioneering effort extends the competing response analysis across all experimental schedules, both classical and instrumental, as well as the interactions between the two. Appropriately, the analysis empha sizes overt behavioral interactions, beginning with the simplest case of one operant and one respondent, and inevitably implicating more diverse and subtle interactions. As the analysis expands to include interactions between multiple recorded responses, increasingly more precise empirical specifications ofrecip rocal interactions in response probabilities are revealed independently of con ventional procedural labels (i. e. , operants, respondents, collaterals, adjunc tives, etc. ) and traditional theoretical distinctions.
Health and Behavior reviews our improved understanding of the complex interplay among biological, psychological, and social influences and explores findings suggested by recent research-including interventions at multiple levels that we can employ to improve human health. The book covers three main areas: What do biological, behavioral, and social sciences contribute to our understanding of healthâ€"including cardiovascular, immune system and brain functioning, behaviors that influence health, the role of social networks and socioeconomic status, and more. What can we learn from applied research on interventions to improve the health of individuals, families, communities, organizations, and larger populations? How can we expeditiously translate research findings into application?
This book explores hands-on issues of how to implement classical conditioning experiments, describing many of the techniques and equipment used to discover the locus for a simple memory in the brain. It details circuit diagrams for instrumentation and software for control and analysis.
Highlights the most important topics, issues, questions, and debates in the field of psychology. Provides material of interest for students from all corners of psychological studies, whether their interests be in the biological, cognitive, developmental, social, or clinical arenas.
Classical conditioning (CC) refers to the general paradigm for scientific studies of learning and memory, as initiated by Pavlov and his followers. Despite the current high level of interest in CC within neuroscience there is presently no single source that provides up-to-date comprehensive coverage of core topics. CC is a very large field. Nevertheless, some organisms and behaviors have dominated the neuroscience scene. Foremost of these are classical eyeblink conditioning (rats, cats, rabbits, and humans) and ear'conditioning. This handbook of CC focuses on these systems. It will be particularly appealing to the growing amount of scientists and medical specialists who employ CC methods.'
Classical conditioning of the nictitating membrane (NM) eyeblink response in rabbits is a useful model system for the study of the neurobiology of learning and memory. This paradigm that is so well described on a biological level has also been applied to studies of normal development over the life span and to instances of abnormal developmental phenomena. Eyeblink conditioning has been studied from molecular and neural network perspectives, and the paradigm is of demonstrated utility in elucidating mechanisms in physiology and pharmacology. This model system provides a behavioral paradigm in animals that has a close analog in human behavior. Perspectives of recent developments in human eyeblink classical conditioning research are presented in the companion volume to this book, Eyeblink Classical Conditioning: Applications in Humans.
The model system of eyeblink classical conditioning in humans has enormous potential for the understanding and application of fundamental principles of learning. This collection makes classical conditioning accessible to teachers and researchers in a number of ways. The first aim is to present the latest developments in theory building. Second, as background for the current directions, Eyeblink Classical Conditioning, Volume I presents an overview of a large body of previously published research on eyeblink classical conditioning. Last, the authors describe eyeblink classical conditioning techniques. Each chapter includes a highlighted methods section so that interested readers can replicate techniques for teaching and research.
