Ian Page is conditioning himself to salivate whenever his cell phone buzzes:
For the last 8 years, whenever my cell phone received a call or text it would vibrate in my left pocket. 'Bondage Happens' is a device I wear on my head that is connected to my cell phone. Whenever I receive a call or text the phone will vibrate and the device will inject a little bit of lemon juice into my mouth, thereby conditioning me to salivate when I get a phone call. I will wear the device for 2 weeks, starting Friday October 22nd.
Link via Make | Page's Website | Screenshot: Make
I guess the reason I really don't see the point in the experiment is because it seems to me it really has been proven already. I smell bread- I'm hungry, mouth waters, stomach twitches. There are a lot of sensory inputs that always create the same reaction in me- maybe not always literally drooling- but always the same reaction. To me, it seems the above is basically attention-getting and a bit odd- the contraption on the head. (Although- he's got a good set up there with the phone rigged to trigger a lemon juice release into his mouth.) I guess it's his deal. Just seems odd to me. :)
Because Pavlov's dogs were conditioned to salivate to he sound of a bell after it was repeatedly paired with food.
I guess the perfect example of conditioning working on humans (even when we're aware of it) is that whenever you get home after a long day, you go straight from not needing to go to the toilet to positively busting to go because out bladders know that home = toilet.
Unconditioned stimulus = toilet.
Conditioned stimulus = home that contains a toilet.
Conditioned response = BUSTING to go toilet when you approach your home.
Sure it works on dogs and pigeons etc.. but on a human being who's conscious of the experiment (since he does it on himself).. I'm not completely sure.
That's an interesting experiment anyway, I want to try it myself now (except for the "wearing a stupid contraption on my head" bit).
I guess I just don't get it. :(