On 2013-09-26, at 10:14 AM, michael sylvester wrote:
> 
> In his original classical conditioning experiment,Pavlov  used

> a) a bell
> b) a metronome
> c) both
>
To which Chris Green responded:
 
> Both, but it depends on what you mean by "original."

and to which I demur:

Evidence that Pavolv used a bell in classical conditioning, 
especially the ding-dong type invariably shown in illustrations, is 
weak to non-existent. It appears to be one of the great myths of 
psychology, on a par with Freud's alleged iceberg metaphor. 

There is no mention of one in his major work _Conditioned Reflexes_, 
and none is shown used in classical conditioning in the great Russian 
director  Pudovkin's silent film "Mechanics of the Brain" (1926)  
[Mekhanika Golovnovo Mozga] which depicts work in Pavlov's 
laboratory. I know because I watched it.  What sources do exist 
pointing to one are untrustworthy (Time magazine, for example).  But 
Pavlov did use a metronome. 

I looked into this at one time with the thought of doing something 
about it, and I have some idea of when and where the myth originated. 
So far I've done nothing, but I'm keeping quiet just in case I ever 
do. 

Stephen

--------------------------------------------
Stephen L. Black, Ph.D.          
Professor of Psychology, Emeritus   
Bishop's University
Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada               
e-mail:  sblack at ubishops.ca
---------------------------------------------


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