Learning processes and the neural analysis of conditioning.

Abstract

Classical and operant conditioning principles, such as the behavioral discrepancy-derived assumption that reinforcement always selects antecedent stimulus and response relations, have been studied at the neural level, mainly by observing the strengthening of neuronal responses or synaptic connections. A review of the literature on the neural basis of behavior provided extensive scientific data that indicate a synthesis between the two conditioning processes based mainly on stimulus control in learning tasks. The resulting analysis revealed the following aspects. Dopamine acts as a behavioral discrepancy signal in the midbrain pathway of positive reinforcement, leading toward the nucleus accumbens. Dopamine modulates both types of conditioning in the Aplysia mollusk and in mammals. In vivo and in vitro mollusk preparations show convergence of both types of conditioning in the same motor neuron. Frontal cortical neurons are involved in behavioral discrimination in reversal and extinction procedures, and these neurons preferentially deliver glutamate through conditioned stimulus or discriminative stimulus pathways. Discriminative neural responses can reliably precede operant movements and can also be common to stimuli that share complex symbolic relations. The present article discusses convergent and divergent points between conditioning paradigms at the neural level of analysis to advance our knowledge on reinforcement.

Understanding Health Behavior Technology Engagement: Pathway to Measuring Digital Behavior Change Interventions

“…Use of the understanding and learnings from several theories, such as the classical and operant processes, social cognitive theory, social learning theory, and self-determination theory [19,21-23], to determine which behaviors fall within the involuntary and voluntary process. Thereafter, we used this guidance to determine antecedent and consequence behavioral determinants (ie, BCTs that make up components of the intervention).…”

Instrumental Learning

“…This finding began the search for the neural pathways and structures associated with both Pavlovian and instrumental learning. Since then, half a century of research supports the idea that neural events (both central and peripheral) are important to behavioral contingencies (for a review, see Guerra and Silva 2010) including the nature of reinforcement and what makes a reinforcer reinforcing.…”

“…Moreover, direct manipulation of the dopamine system can have direct effects of the value of reinforcers: extra dopamine and the value of food and water increase. Dopamine depletion simulates satiation and can impede learning (see Guerra and Silva 2010). Most recently, an investigation of the mechanisms of dopamine mitigation and incentive motivation would change the traditional stimulus-response (S-R) view of the brain-behavior interaction.…”

Polyphony of domestic dog whines and vocal cues to body size

“…However, some dog owners voluntarily or involuntarily promote whining by their dogs via a conditioned response mechanism ( Volodina et al 2006a ; Faragó et al 2014 ). This kind of communication between dogs and owners develops via classical or operant conditioning with positive reinforcement, either deliberate or not (e.g., Guerra and Silva 2010 ). So, in some dog–owner pairs, dog whining represents a part of everyday routine communication ( Volodina et al 2006a ; Faragó et al 2014 ).…”