OPERATIONAL TERMINOLOGY FOR STIMULUS EXPOSURE (SE) CONDITIONING

Nomenclature for simple types of learning is ambiguous and incomplete, as even commonly used terms such as 'habituation' and 'sensitization' are not applied consistently. One problem is a failure to distinguish between operational and theoretical constructs linguistically. Operat ional terminology for reporting behavioural results should be differen t from the language used in the discussion of learning theory. Thus, s ystematic operational terminology for simple types of conditioning is proposed. The most general category, stimulus exposure (SE) conditioni ng, is learning by exposure to a stimulus or to multiple stimuli where explicit inter-stimulus contingencies or instrumental reinforcers are not a part of training. Subtypes of SE conditioning are distinguished by the number of different stimuli used during training, by the metho d used to assess learning, and by the relationship between training st imuli and the assessment method. These categories include 'alteractive ', 'iterative', 'heterostimic', and 'multistimic' conditioning. Learne d responses are also categorized as reduction, enhancement, or transfo rmation. SE conditioning categories combine with response terminology in phrases such as 'iterative reduction', which is a decrease in the r esponse to a stimulus due to repeated presentation of that stimulus. ( C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.