Question

1. Under what conditions does the Rescorla-Wagner model predict that there will be excitatory conditioning, inhibitory conditioning, or no conditioning at all? Give a specific example in each case.

Answer 1

Rescorla-Wagner Model is also known as RW model. It is a model which talks about classical conditioning. It says that learning is basically a process of conceptualisation. It is being conceptualised between conditioned stimuli (CS) and unconditioned stimuli (US).

Excitatory conditioning is a situation in which there exists a positive relation between CS and US. It means that we can predict the CS through observing US. It can be understood through an example. Lets take the example of food item which we consider tasteless or of bad taste.

If we consume this food then it can make us sick. If we think about this food then also we start feeling sick. It is an example where one event is causing start of another event. It means that if one event occurs then prediction about another event can easily be made.

Inhibitory conditioning is a condition in which presence of CS is a clear indication of absence of US. It can be understood through an example. Lets take that there is a dog, that dog salivate after hearing a ringing of bell. It if we add stimulus of sudden light then dog will not salivate at all.

Here the sudden light can be taken as an inhibitor. This RW model clearly indicates the conditions which can make prediction of various events easier. This model also reduces the independent variables with great margins. It helps in increasing number of predictions and decreases surprises.