AROUSAL’S EFFECT ON PERFORMANCE
Introduction to the Yerkes-Dodson Law & Arousal, Motivation & Your Dog
WHAT IS THE YERKES
This science-y explanation of the Yerkes-Dodson law
“The law posits that arousal level, a component of temperament, affects problem solving in an inverted U-shaped relationship: optimal performance is reached at intermediate levels of arousal and impeded by high and low levels” (Bray).
The definition as trainers
“In psychology an states that motivation curve. Too much deprivation poor performance enough deprivation performance. The satiation. Some trainers lack of performance deprivation not realizing deprivation will have impact on learning to sport psychology performances are experiences” (Tudge
YERKES DODSON LAW?
as it relates to important law that motivation occurs on a bell deprivation causes and likewise not deprivation causes poor same applies to trainers may attribute performance to not enough, realizing that too much have a negative learning. This is law relates psychology and is why peak called “zone” Tudge).
TLDR: The law for us regular folks
• Dogs learn complex tasks better when their arousal level is intermediate
• Dogs learn simple tasks better when their arousal level is higher
• Too much or too little arousal inhibits learning
• Arousal and motivation are influenced by deprivation and satiation – this is why we focus on meeting the needs of our dogs as part of our Toolkit for training
YERKES DODSON LAW
Graphic from Barking Brains and Dr. Kathy Murphy
WHY DO WE CARE
We are all busy. efforts.
We help
ABOUT THE ZONES?
help our dogs as efficiently as possible.
busy. Being in the right zone lets us get the biggest bang for our efforts. This helps maximize training/learning efficiency.
We keep frustration low.
We keep frustration low for us and for our dogs!
Reinforcement is high.
When we’re in the zone, we are reinforcing our dogs frequently and our dogs are learning, which in turn reinforces our efforts. So much fun!
We use our resources wisely.
No one wants to spend a lot of time an/or money on a skill or problem and not make headway – so, let’s not do that!
SIGNS OF BEING
Too Low
• Sleeping
• Laying down
• Relaxed
• Not wanting to get up
• Walks very slowly
• Seems unengaged
• Not paying attention
Bring up the arousal or work another day
Just
• Engaged
• Focused
• Able to be reinforced treats, play or
• Expects more
• Seems happy
Keep it going signs of disengagement hyperarousal
BEING IN THE ZONE
reinforced with or happy talk more repetition happy
Too Much
• Distracted or frenetic
• Jumpy, mouthy or snippy
• Displays several signs of hyperarousal
• Displays signs of anxiety (e.g. vigilance, scanning, freezing, trembling, shaking, panting) going but watch for disengagement or hyperarousal
Bring down arousal or call it a day
Just Right
•
WHAT
Pep up your
Initiate play
Change
Add some
Add some movement
Upgrade
Make sure response)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
If
dog
your
WHAT TO DO IF AROUSAL
IS TOO LOW?
your pup with some high-pitched happy talk play with a favorite toy for a few minutes locations
some cheery music and do a little dance together some interactive training that involves some movement (Find It followed by Touch!)
Upgrade your treats
sure your dog is tired, not shut down (this is a fear response)
dog is just too tired, it’s ok to work another time
INDICATORS OF HYPER
Common Observations
• Panting/rapid respiration
• Humping/mouthing
• Jumping up / height-seeking behavior / sometimes air snapping towards the face
• Destructive behavior
• Vocalization / rapid-fire barking
• “Hard mouth” treat taking
• Penile crowning
“Problematic Characteristics
• Inability to focus
• Disproportionate
Picture credit reddit; u/vladgrinch(TOO MUCH) AROUSAL
“Problematic Arousal”
Characteristics
focus
Disproportionate startle
Body Language
• Dilated pupils
• Tension ridges (around face “smile”)
rapid
tongue
BE PROACTIVE
• We can manipulate variables when we START to see any indicators of too much arousal. Being proactive will help extend the time for your dog’s learning.
• These variables are called the “stimulus gradient” and include:
• Duration – how long
• Distance – how close
• Intensity – how much
• Number of dogs, people, and other stimuli perceived by the senses
• Movement
• When the balance is right, the dog is in the right zone for learning.
PROACTIVE
see proactive zone
Stimulus Gradient
WHAT TO DO IF AROUSAL IS TOO HIGH?
Consider the stimulus gradient and dial down duration, intensity distance. This can include:
• Take a break
• Move to a less distracting environment
• Slow down your rate of speech
• Soften the volume of your speech
• Slow down your movement
• Do a treat scatter
• Calming touch
• Work on a slower paced skill like stay
• Lower your treat value
• Play the “Nothing Game”
• If arousal can’t be brought down into the area where your dog learn, it’s ok to call it a day!
•
intensity or dog can AROUSAL
TAKE HOME IDEAS
• There is an optimal level of arousal for peak performance and learning
• Too little, and they don’t feel like participating; too much and performance suffers and we may get some unwanted side effects
• The optimal arousal point varies for every dog
• Getting to that arousal zone is different for every dog too, and may be different day-to-day
REFERENCES
• Bray, E. E., MacLean, E. L., & Hare, B. A. (2015). Increasing arousal Animal Cognition, 18(6), 1317–1329. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071
• Clothier, S. (2023, January 3). Understanding thresholds: It's more 2023, from https://suzanneclothier.com/article/understanding
• Murphy, K. (n.d.). Yerkes-Dodson Law. Facebook. Retrieved January https://www.facebook.com/neuroscienceisawesome/photos/a.397580
• Pietrangelo, A. (2020, October 22). Yerkes-Dodson Law: How it January 27, 2023, from https://www.healthline.com/health/yerkes
• R/animalsbeingderps - crazy eyes puppy. reddit. (n.d.). Retrieved https://www.reddit.com/r/AnimalsBeingDerps/comments/flr5nn/crazy_e
• Tudge, N. (2018). Ebook: A lexicon of practical terms for pet trainers Retrieved February 10, 2023, from https://www.dogwise.com/ebook consultants-third-edition-pdf/
•
REFERENCES
arousal enhances inhibitory control in calm but not excitable dogs. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-015-0901-1
more than under- or over. suzanneclothier. Retrieved February 11, https://suzanneclothier.com/article/understanding-thresholds-its-more-than-under-or-over/
January 26, 2023, from https://www.facebook.com/neuroscienceisawesome/photos/a.397580417540338/1049464455685261/?type=3
it correlates to stress, anxiety, performance. Healthline. Retrieved https://www.healthline.com/health/yerkes-dodson-law#how-the-law-works
Retrieved January 26, 2023, from https://www.reddit.com/r/AnimalsBeingDerps/comments/flr5nn/crazy_eyes_puppy/
trainers & behavior consultants - third edition PDF. Dogwise. https://www.dogwise.com/ebook-a-lexicon-of-practical-terms-for-pet-trainers-behavior-
