Cassical conditioning of neonatal learning example
One example of classical conditioning in neonatal learning is the nipple preference in newborn babies. When a baby is born, they have a natural instinct to suckle in order to feed. However, in some cases, the baby may have difficulty latching onto the mother's breast or bottle nipple, leading to frustration and difficulty in feeding.
To overcome this challenge, a caregiver may introduce a different stimulus, such as a pacifier or a different type of nipple, alongside the act of feeding. The baby learns to associate the new stimulus with feeding and soon develops a preference for it. This is an example of classical conditioning.
Over time, the baby's preference for the new stimulus becomes stronger, and they may refuse or have difficulty feeding using any other type of nipple. This preference can be beneficial if the baby initially had difficulty latching or feeding, as it allows them to continue receiving adequate nutrition.
Classical conditioning of neonatal learning refers to the process of teaching newborns to associate certain stimuli with specific responses. Here is an example of classical conditioning in neonatal learning:
1. The Unconditioned Stimulus (US): Let's say a newborn baby is given breast milk, which naturally elicits the baby's sucking reflex.
2. The Unconditioned Response (UR): The baby's sucking reflex is the unconditioned response that occurs automatically when the baby is given breast milk.
3. The Conditioned Stimulus (CS): In this example, a soft lullaby is played to the baby every time before feeding. The baby initially does not have any natural response to the lullaby.
4. The Conditioning Process: Through repeated pairing of the lullaby (CS) with the breast milk (US), the baby begins to associate the lullaby with feeding (US). This process involves multiple repetitions over a period of time.
5. The Conditioned Response (CR): Eventually, the baby starts associating the lullaby (CS) with feeding (US) and begins to show a response to the lullaby alone. The baby may exhibit the sucking reflex or display signs of anticipation for feeding when the lullaby is played, even without the presence of breast milk.
In summary, classical conditioning of neonatal learning occurs when a newborn baby learns to associate a neutral stimulus (lullaby) with an unconditioned stimulus (breast milk), eventually leading to a conditioned response (sucking reflex or anticipation) to the previously neutral stimulus alone.