VPB 121: Veterinary Physiology - II (2+1)

PROPERTIES OF CONDITIONED RESPONSES

Reinforcement

• If two neutral stimuli (e.g. sound and light) are applied simultaneously, the conditioned response will be greater than by a single stimulus.

Abolition

• The neutral or the conditioned stimuli must be applied at a constant strength and duration to produce a conditioned response. Otherwise, this may gradually weakens and finally disappears.
• Frequent rapid succession of the conditioned stimulus (neutral) without the natural stimulus (e.g. food) the developed conditioned response will gradually weaken and finally disappears completely.

Differentiation

• Animal that has the ability to differentiate two independent neutral stimuli (sound and the flashes of light), develops two types of conditioned responses which are very specific. Hence, the other neutral stimuli cannot produce the same conditioned response.