Conditioning the Eyeblink Response

Objective: students will be able to explain the process of conditioning Learning Content Standard 1.1 This exercise involves the conditioning of the human eyeblink. It’s best if you work with one other co- experimenter who does the recording. In addition, you will need one willing participant, a spoon, a straw, and a desk.

1. Have the person sit at a table with his chin resting in his hands so his head remains stationary.

2. Begin by tapping the top of the desk once (CS) with the spoon. Note the participant’s reactions. Tap a few more times until he makes no consistent response.

3. Begin conditioning by tapping the top of the desk once, followed immediately by a strong puff of air to the person’s eye (US) through the straw. Be certain the air is strong enough to elicit an eyeblink (UR). Repeat the procedure seven times at 20-second intervals.

4. On the eighth trial (the test trial) tap the top of the desk but deliver no puff of air. Record whether an eyeblink (CR) occurs in response to the sound.

5. Repeat seven more conditioning trials and then another test trial, also at 20-second intervals. Record any blinking responses. Continue alternating seven conditioning trials with one test trial until the sound clearly elicits an eyeblink.

6. To assess whether generalization has occurred, tap the metal rail of the desk with the spoon. Record whether a clear blink is made. If the generalization is obvious, proceed with discrimination training. Otherwise go to step 8.

7. Tap each of the parts of the desk in random fashion and present the puff of air only after tapping the top of the desk. Record the number of trials until the person stops blinking in response to your tapping the metal rail of the desk.

8. Proceed with extinction. Tap the top of the desk approximately every 20 seconds until no eyeblink is elicited. Record the number of trials needed to achieve extinction.

9. After allowing the participant to relax for 4 minutes, test for spontaneous recovery. Tap the top of the desk but deliver no puff of air. Record the number of trials needed to achieve extinction again.