Classical Conditioning

Malakite

Malakite

Malakite

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Ok so I have been thinking.

Most people will be aware of classical conditioning, Pavlov’s dogs and all that.
Basically is eliciting a physiological response from external stimuli.

E.g. Pavlov rang a bell every time he fed his dogs. Eventually the food was no longer needed; just ringing the bell would be enough to cause the dogs to have a physical response (salivating)

So why would this approach not be possible with drugs. So causing the release of serotonin and dopamine in your brain associated with ecstasy, the increased bloods flow, heart rate etc.

Now if you were to condition this response to say a piece of music would it be possible to experience a physical response similar to a 'high'?

Putting aside the prospect of a free high, uses such as rehab for addiction may be possible. Would a heroin addict's pain coming off the drug be lessened if they could be conditioned to trick their body into feeling as if they had taken the drug without actually taking it?
 
Well listening to certain trance music can get me thinking about my raving days and I certainly have some sort of physical reaction to the memory...although brief.
 
Well the major flaw would be that you would have to give them Heroin to start with. And in your other example people would have to use ecstasy first whilst listening to the music.
 
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Wouldn't the fact that dogs are much easier than humans to 'trick' be a problem?

People would qucikly realise that they aren't getting whatever it was anymore.

Unless it's some sort of sub-conscience link, afraid i don't know a lot about this kind of thing.
 
pavlov's dog was more a case that the dog associated the sound of the bell with getting fed, then when he rang the bell, the dogs would think they were going to get fed, they wouldn't instantly *be* fed/full

so using it with drugs wouldn't likely give the person a high, more make them crave drugs more.

though I remember reading about positive self conditioning, for example, thinking happy thoughts elates the brain and causes you to feel better, so the happier you think, the happier you'll be (infinite loop) you could do something similar, and people do, a certain scent can bring back childhood memories, or make you think about loved ones.

for me, thee's certain music that reminds me of playing games, Tubular bells-Super smash bros melee :D

guess you might be able to do something similar to hypnosis for a similar effect, click fingers, act like a chiken style stuff :p
 
Fenris said:
I think the problem would be that food isn't disgustingly addictive.
Click to expand...

Yeah it;s not like you get physical pain if you don;t consume any for day or so.


Or suffer crippling physical symptoms after prolonged withdrawal.

And you certainly don't suffer inevitably fatal effects of complete withdraw.
 
Tefal said:
Yeah it;s not like you get physical pain if you don;t consume any for day or so.

Or suffer crippling physical symptoms after prolonged withdrawal.

And you certainly don't suffer inevitably fatal effects of complete withdraw.
Click to expand...


I think I hear my sarcasm detector ticking...
 
Tefal said:
Yeah it;s not like you get physical pain if you don;t consume any for day or so.


Or suffer crippling physical symptoms after prolonged withdrawal.

And you certainly don't suffer inevitably fatal effects of complete withdraw.
Click to expand...

hell, I'm going cold turkey at the moment.....oh god....!
 
Malakite said:
So why would this approach not be possible with drugs. So causing the release of serotonin and dopamine in your brain associated with ecstasy, the increased bloods flow, heart rate etc.
Click to expand...

Did anywhere say it wasn't possible with drugs?

You wouldn't get exactly the same effect but it'd be close. The problem is getting the subject to associate the 'high' with the stimuli rather than associating the act of taking the drugs.
 
Tefal said:
Yeah it;s not like you get physical pain if you don;t consume any for day or so.


Or suffer crippling physical symptoms after prolonged withdrawal.

And you certainly don't suffer inevitably fatal effects of complete withdraw.
Click to expand...

I'd argue that if you completely withdrew from eating food you would suffer fatal effects.
 
mac1st3 said:
pavlov's dog was more a case that the dog associated the sound of the bell with getting fed, then when he rang the bell, the dogs would think they were going to get fed, they wouldn't instantly *be* fed/full
Click to expand...

Yeah it was not that the dogs would think themselves full or fed etc but that their body's would respond to the bell as if it were another stimuli, they would salivate even though there was no food. They would not get the effects of food, feel full , sustinence etc.

with drugs would your body not associate the music with the physical response (release of chemicals from the brain)
 
Malakite said:
Yeah it was not that the dogs would think themselves full or fed etc but that their body's would respond to the bell as if it were another stimuli, they would salivate even though there was no food. They would not get the effects of food, feel full , sustinence etc.

with drugs would your body not associate the music with the physical response (release of chemicals from the brain)
Click to expand...

I would think the body would do something similar to the salivation, ie get excited at the prospect of the buzz , but not actually be anything like the effect of the drug
 
Dark_Angel said:
Really? I have cravings for it often! Seems pretty addictive to me, in fact if I'm hungry I think that if I don't eat for long enough, I could die! :eek::eek::eek::eek:


:(
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Is it food or a certain ingredient you crave? ie sugar

I find now that I don't eat sugar or carbs much I don't crave anything or feel hungry that often
 
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