operant

operant /op·er·ant/ (op´er-ant) in psychology, any response that is not elicited by specific external stimuli but that recurs at a given rate in a particular set of circumstances.

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op·er·ant (pr-nt)

adj.

1. Operating to produce effects; effective.

2. Of, relating to, or being a response that occurs spontaneously and is identified by its reinforcing or inhibiting effects.

n.

In operant conditioning, a behavior or specific response chosen by the experimenter or therapist. Also called target response.

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operant

[op′ərənt]

Etymology: L, operare, to work

any act or response occurring without an identifiable stimulus. The result of the act or response determines whether or not it is repeated.

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conditioning [kon-dish´un-ing]

1. in physical medicine, improvement of physical health by a program of exercises; called also physical conditioning.

2. in psychology, a form of learning in which a response is elicited by a neutral stimulus which previously had been repeatedly presented in conjunction with the stimulus that originally elicited the response. Called also classical or respondent conditioning.

The concept had its beginnings in experimental techniques for the study of reflexes. The traditional procedure is based on the work of Ivan P. Pavlov, a Russian physiologist. In this technique the experimental subject is a dog that is harnessed in a sound-shielded room. The neutral stimulus is the sound of a metronome or bell which occurs each time the dog is presented with food, and the response is the production of saliva by the dog. Eventually the sound of the bell or metronome produces salivation, even though the stimulus that originally elicited the response (the food) is no longer presented.

In the technique just described, the conditioned stimulus is the sound of the bell or metronome, and the conditioned response is the salivation that occurs when the sound is heard. The food, which was the original stimulus to salivation, is the unconditioned stimulus and the salivation that occurred when food was presented is the unconditioned response.

Reinforcement is said to take place when the conditioned stimulus is appropriately followed by the unconditioned stimulus. If the unconditioned stimulus is withheld during a series of trials, the procedure is called extinction because the frequency of the conditioned response will gradually decrease when the stimulus producing the response is no longer present. The process of extinction eventually results in a return of the preconditioning level of behavior.

aversive conditioning learning in which punishment or other unpleasant stimulation is used to associate negative feelings with an undesirable response.

classical conditioning conditioning (def. 2).

instrumental conditioning (operant conditioning) learning in which a particular response is elicited by a stimulus because that response produces desirable consequences (reward). It differs from classical conditioning in that the reinforcement takes place only after the subject performs a specific act that has been previously designated. If no unconditioned stimulus is used to bring about this act, the desired behavior is known as an operant. Once the behavior occurs with regularity the behavior may be called a conditioned response.

The traditional example of instrumental conditioning uses the Skinner box, named after B. F. Skinner, an American behavioral psychologist. The subject, a rat, is kept in the box and becomes conditioned to press a bar by being rewarded with food pellets each time its early random movements caused it to press against the bar.

The principles and techniques related to instrumental conditioning are used clinically in behavior therapy to help patients eliminate undesirable behavior and substitute for it newly learned behavior that is more appropriate and acceptable.

physical conditioning conditioning (def. 1).

respondent conditioning conditioning (def. 2).

work conditioning a physical exercise program designed to restore specific strength, flexibility, and endurance for return to work following injury, disease, or medically imposed rest; it may be part of a complete work hardening program when other aspects of functional restoration are required.

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operant

see instrumental and operant conditioning.

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operant

Psychology adjective Referring to response(s) contingent upon or influenced by their impact on the environment or a situation, and/or by the ability of response(s) to achieve reward or reinforcement

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Patient discussion about operant.

Q. What are the risks in a gastric bypass surgery for weight loss? I am obese and I am interested in doing this surgery, but I’m scared. What are the risks of this surgery?

A. The resulting weight loss in gastric bypass surgery is typically dramatic, and markedly reduces co-morbidities of obesity. However, complications are common and surgery-related death occurs within one month in 2% of patients. As in any type of abdominal surgery there is the risk of developing an infection and sepsis, venous thrombosis, hemorrhage, hernia, bowel obstruction and leak from the gut. This particular surgery puts the patient in danger also for mineral and nutritional losses.

Q. What types of gastric bypass surgeries are there? I heard all sorts of options for gastric bypass are available. What is the most in use?

A. Bariatric surgeries or – gastric bypass surgeries for weight loss fall into three categories: Restrictive procedures make the stomach smaller to limit the amount of food intake, malabsorptive techniques reduce the amount of intestine that comes in contact with food so that the body absorbs fewer calories, and combination operations employ both restriction and malabsorption. The exact one to be done should be decided with the physician according to each patients abilities and pre-operative function level.

Q. Should I have eye laser surgery? I am 17 and have been wearing glasses since I was a kid. I was thinking of having an eye laser surgery in order to fix my eyesight. What are the risks?

A. i had the surgery done almost a year and a half ago, i love it,the risk is minamal,do it,u won"t regret it,i now have 20/15 vision, and i was blind as a bat before,20/15 is over perfect vision!!!!!!!!!!!!