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The concept of instrumental conditioning, a learning process where voluntary behaviors are modified by rewards or punishments. The document delves into the work of b.f. Skinner, a leading figure in behaviorism, and his contributions to operant conditioning. It also discusses the role of dopamine in reinforcement and the impact of instrumental conditioning on neural pathways and synaptic plasticity.
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HISTORY B.F.SKINNER(1904-1940) is referred to as the father of instrumental conditioning. His 1938 book "The Behavior of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis", initiated his lifelong study of operant conditioning and its application to human and animal behavior. Skinner believed that classical conditioning was too simple to be used to describe something as complex as human behavior. This is also known as Skinnerian conditioning. He was born on March 20, 1904, in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, and passed away on August 18, 1990, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Skinner is best known for his contributions to the development of behaviorism and his work on operant conditioning. Skinner is considered one of the leading figures in behaviorism, a school of psychology that emphasizes the study of observable behaviors. He introduced the concept of operant conditioning, which involves modifying behavior through reinforcement or punishment. Skinner's work challenged the predominant views of Watsonian behaviorism (associated with John B. Watson), which focused on reflexes and stimulus- response associations. Skinner authored numerous influential books and articles, including "The Behavior of Organisms" (1938), "Walden Two" (1948), and "Beyond Freedom and Dignity" (1971). His most famous work, "Verbal Behavior" (1957), introduced a behaviorist account of language acquisition and verbal behavior. Burrhus Frederic Skinner (March 20, 1904 – August 18, 1990) was an American psychologist, behaviorist, inventor, and social philosopher. Considered the father of Behaviorism, he was the Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology at Harvard University from 1958 until his retirement in 1974
INSTRUMENTAL CONDITIONING BASED ON PHYSIOLOGY
Electrical stimulation of many parts of the brain is reinforcing (Old and Fobes 1981). The best and most reliable location is the Medial forebrain bundle(MFB), a bundle of axons that travels in a rostral-caudal axis from the midbrain to the rostral basal forebrain. The MFB passes to the lateral hypothalamus , and it is in this region that most investigators place the tip of the electrodes. The mesolimbic system begins in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the midbrain and projects rostrally to several forebrain regions, including the amygdala, the hippocampus , and the nucleus accumbens (NAC). This nucleus is located in the basal forebrain rostral to the preoptic area and immediately adjacent to the septum. The mesocortical system also plays a role in reinforcement. This system also begins in the ventral tegmental area but projects to the prefrontal cortex , the limbic cortex , and the hippocampus. A large body of experimental evidence indicates that the projections of the mesolimbic pathway that terminate in the nucleus accumbens are at least partly responsible for the reinforcing effects of electrical brain stimulation. These neurons plays an important role in the reinforcing effects of amphetamine, cocaine, and other drugs. Treatment that stimulant dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens behaviors the animals will press the lever that causes the electrical stimulation of the ventral tegmental area, the medial forebrain bundle, or the nucleus accumbens it’s self.
3. Initial Training : Introduce the lever-pressing task. When the rat presses the lever, a food pellet is dispensed. The rat learns to associate lever pressing with the delivery of a reward (positive reinforcement).
Nucleus accumbens- a subcortical brain structure known primarily for its roles in pleasure, reward, and addiction. Amygdala - a small, almond-shaped structure inside of your brain. The amygdala participates in the regulation of autonomic and endocrine functions, decision- making and adaptations of instinctive and motivational behaviors to changes in the environment through implicit associative learning, changes in short- and long-term synaptic plasticity, and activation of the fight-or-flight response. Ventral Tegmental Area - The ventral tegmental area (VTA) located in the midbrain controls diverse behavioral repertoire, including reward processing, aversion, stress modulation, drug addiction, learning, and memory.
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