Latent Inhibition

Definition

Latent inhibition is a phenomenon in classical conditioning where prior exposure to a neutral stimulus reduces the later conditioning of that stimulus. It refers to the decreased responsiveness to a stimulus that has previously been experienced without consequence.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Latent inhibition occurs when an organism is pre-exposed to a neutral stimulus before it is paired with a significant stimulus during conditioning.
2. This pre-exposure leads to slower acquisition of the conditioned response compared to organisms that did not receive the pre-exposure.
3. Latent inhibition is thought to be an adaptive mechanism that allows organisms to ignore stimuli that have previously been experienced as irrelevant.
4. The phenomenon of latent inhibition has been observed in a variety of species, including humans, and is believed to play a role in selective attention and the processing of novel information.
5. Disruptions in latent inhibition have been associated with certain psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, suggesting its importance in normal cognitive functioning.

Review Questions

• Explain how latent inhibition relates to the process of classical conditioning.
  • Latent inhibition is a phenomenon that occurs in the context of classical conditioning. When an organism is pre-exposed to a neutral stimulus before it is paired with a significant stimulus during the conditioning process, the organism exhibits slower acquisition of the conditioned response compared to organisms that did not receive the pre-exposure. This is because the pre-exposure leads the organism to perceive the neutral stimulus as irrelevant, reducing its attention and responsiveness to that stimulus during the subsequent conditioning.
• Describe the potential adaptive significance of latent inhibition.
  • Latent inhibition is thought to be an adaptive mechanism that allows organisms to ignore stimuli that have previously been experienced as irrelevant. By reducing the responsiveness to stimuli that have been encountered without consequence, latent inhibition helps the organism focus its attention and resources on more biologically significant information. This selective attention to novel and potentially important stimuli is believed to be a crucial cognitive function that enhances an organism's ability to learn and respond effectively to its environment.
• Analyze the relationship between disruptions in latent inhibition and certain psychiatric disorders.
  • Disruptions in latent inhibition have been associated with certain psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia. Individuals with schizophrenia often exhibit impairments in their ability to filter out irrelevant information and focus their attention on important stimuli. This cognitive dysfunction, which may be related to abnormalities in the neural mechanisms underlying latent inhibition, is thought to contribute to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions. The study of latent inhibition and its disruptions has provided valuable insights into the cognitive processes involved in selective attention and the potential neurobiological underpinnings of certain mental health conditions.

Related terms

Classical Conditioning:

A type of learning where a neutral stimulus is paired with a biologically significant stimulus, resulting in the neutral stimulus eliciting a response similar to the biologically significant stimulus.

Habituation:

A decrease in the strength of a response to a stimulus after repeated exposure to that stimulus, without any associated consequences.

Attention:

The cognitive process of selectively concentrating on one aspect of the environment while ignoring others.