Pavlovian conditioning and multiple chemical sensitivity.

Pavlovian conditioning and multiple chemical sensitivity.

Pavlovian conditioning processes may contribute to some symptoms of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). This review summarizes the potential relevance of the literature on conditional taste and olfactory aversions, conditional sensitization, and conditional immunomodulation to understanding MCS. A conditioning-based perspective on MCS suggests novel research and treatment strategies.

Context and Pavlovian conditioning.

Procedurally, learning has to occur in a context. Several lines of evidence suggest that contextual stimuli actively affect learning and expression of the conditional response. The experimental context can become associated with the unconditional stimulus (US), especially when the US is presented in a context in the absence of a discrete conditional stimulus (CS). Moreover, context can modulate...

Habituation, sensitization, and Pavlovian conditioning

In this brief review, I argue that the impact of a stimulus on behavioral control increase as the distance of the stimulus to the body decreases. Habituation, i.e., decrement in response intensity repetition of the triggering stimulus, is the default state for sensory processing, and the likelihood of habituation is higher for distal stimuli. Sensitization, i.e., increment in response intensity...

Theories of Pavlovian Conditioning

Clarence started dating Felicia several months ago. Their very different personalities— Clarence is quiet and shy, and Felicia is outgoing and social—did not keep them from becoming close. Felicia introduced Clarence to a social life he had never before experienced; they enjoyed romantic dinners and exciting parties. Felicia was an excellent dancer, which made dancing fun. However, Clarence was...

Multiple Roles for Synaptic Plasticity in Pavlovian Fear Conditioning