In classical conditioning, what is the term for a previously neutral stimulus that elicits a response after being paired with a meaningful one?

In classical conditioning, what is the term for a previously neutral stimulus that elicits a response after being paired with a meaningful one?

• A. Unconditioned stimulus
• B. Unconditioned response
• C. Conditioned stimulus
• D. Conditioned response

Answer: (C)

In classical conditioning, a previously neutral stimulus that becomes capable of eliciting a response after being paired with a meaningful stimulus is called the conditioned stimulus. The idea is that this neutral cue gains significance through association. The unconditioned stimulus is the trigger that naturally causes a response without learning (like meat powder causing salivation), and the unconditioned response is that natural reaction (salivation). After pairing, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus and can evoke a learned response—the conditioned response—even without the unconditioned stimulus present. For example, the bell starts as a neutral cue; after being paired with meat powder, it elicits salivation on its own. The other terms don’t fit: the unconditioned stimulus is the natural trigger, the unconditioned response is the natural reflex, and the conditioned response is the learned reaction to the conditioned stimulus.

In classical conditioning, a previously neutral stimulus that becomes capable of eliciting a response after being paired with a meaningful stimulus is called the conditioned stimulus. The idea is that this neutral cue gains significance through association. The unconditioned stimulus is the trigger that naturally causes a response without learning (like meat powder causing salivation), and the unconditioned response is that natural reaction (salivation). After pairing, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus and can evoke a learned response—the conditioned response—even without the unconditioned stimulus present. For example, the bell starts as a neutral cue; after being paired with meat powder, it elicits salivation on its own. The other terms don’t fit: the unconditioned stimulus is the natural trigger, the unconditioned response is the natural reflex, and the conditioned response is the learned reaction to the conditioned stimulus.