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PSYC3301: Lab 2
Practice Quiz 2
Classical conditioning:
Fear conditioning
Suppression ratio
Acquisition
Extinction
Control procedures
The role of contingency in classical conditioning


Lab two

Readings:
Classical conditioning:
Domjan 2010, 7th edition: Pages 59-67, 70-77

Introduction and Objectives:
So far in PSYC3301 learning lectures and labs, you have learnt about various experimental paradigms
that are used to study classical conditioning, some of the properties (i.e. the distinctive features) of
classical conditioning (acquisition, extinction), the role of contingency in classical conditioning, and
about the use of appropriate control procedures in classical conditioning. This lab gives you the
opportunity to use a hands-on approach to explore classical conditioning, both in terms of an
experimental procedure, but also as a mechanism of learning and behavioural change. This will help
you think about classical conditioning more deeply, and therefore understand it, assimilate it, remember
it and better apply it to novel situations.

Specifically, the objectives of today’s lab activities are for you to:

1. Re-visit the concept of classical conditioning as an experimental procedure (including
terminology, CS, US, UR, CR) and as a mechanism of behavioural change
2. Apply a fear conditioning paradigm to a non-human animal to explore both acquisition and
extinction in classical conditioning using the suppression ratio as a measure of learning
3. Revisit the role of contingency in classical conditioning, as well as the use of appropriate
control procedures for classical conditioning

Throughout this laboratory, we recommend that you take notes on your discoveries and thoughts in
your lab book, but also on comments, assistance and explanations given by your tutor; at the end of the
lab, or after the lab if you run out of time, you will have the opportunity to answer a series of questions
that relate to the lab and lecture content. Answering these questions will allow you to practice the
assessment skills needed to pass this course, which include knowledge of lecture and lab content, but
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also the ability to apply that knowledge to new situations. Both lecture and lab content can be the
subject of questions in the final exam.

During the laboratory, you will:
1. Train Sniffy on a classical fear conditioning paradigm
2. Measure the expression of learning (i.e. performance) using the suppression ratio
3. Compare the effects of a paired-experimental and an unpaired-control procedure on Sniffy’s
behaviour in order to understand appropriate control procedures for classical conditioning, but
also to understand that the contingent relationship between CS and US is key to classical
conditioning
4. Explore graphical representations of fear acquisition in both a paired-experimental and an
explicitly unpaired control treatment; extinguish fear in the paired experimental treatment and
explore such learning using graphical representations of the suppression ratio

By the end of this lab, you should be able to:
1. Be able to explain what classical conditioning is, both in terms of its procedure and how it
changes behaviour. You should be able to use the technical terminology easily.
2. Be able to explain the control procedures for classical conditioning, and their rationale (i.e.
exactly what are they controlling for?).
3. Be able to explain the concept of contingency and why it is so important in classical
conditioning
4. Be able to explain what a fear conditioning paradigm is.
5. Be able to explain what the suppression ratio is, how it is calculated, and how it changes as
learning occurs
6. Be able to explain what acquisition and extinction refer to, and what these learning phenomena
look like graphically both with specific reference to the suppression ratio, but also with any
other measure of learning you may be asked to use (e.g. drops of saliva, head pokes in feeder,
probability of blinking, etc…)

Lab activities
Please now follow the directions of your tutor who will guide you through today’s lab activities.













































































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