Question

In a typical classical conditioning experiment, a neutral stimulus is a. repeatedly paired with the unconditioned response. b. not paired with any other stimulus. c. repeatedly paired with the conditioned stimulus. d. repeatedly paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Short answer

The neutral stimulus is paired with the unconditioned stimulus (d).

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Classical Conditioning

In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus is one that initially does not elicit any intrinsic response from the organism. However, through repeated pairings with another stimulus, changes in response can be observed.

Identifying Key Components

To find the correct answer, it's important to identify key terms in classical conditioning: - **Neutral Stimulus (NS):** Initially elicits no specific response. - **Unconditioned Stimulus (US):** Naturally elicits an unconditioned response (UR) without prior conditioning. - **Conditioned Stimulus (CS):** Previously neutral; elicits a conditioned response after association with the US. - **Unconditioned Response (UR):** Natural reaction to the US.

Evaluating the Answer Choices

Review the choices provided: - **a.** Neutral stimulus paired with unconditioned response: This suggests a direct pairing with the response, which doesn't make sense for conditioning. - **b.** Neutral stimulus not paired with any stimulus: Without pairing, no conditioning can occur. - **c.** Neutral stimulus paired with conditioned stimulus: Pairing a neutral stimulus with a CS doesn't cause conditioning as CS is already a result of conditioning. - **d.** Neutral stimulus paired with unconditioned stimulus: The correct method to form an association and convert the neutral stimulus to a conditioned stimulus.

Selecting the Correct Answer

The neutral stimulus becomes effective in eliciting a conditioned response when it is paired with the unconditioned stimulus. Thus, the correct choice is **d**: the neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Key concepts

Neutral Stimulus

In the realm of classical conditioning, the neutral stimulus (NS) is where we start our journey. Initially, this stimulus is like a blank slate; it means nothing special on its own and doesn’t produce a strong reaction. For example, imagine a bell ringing that doesn’t evoke any significant response from a dog. This bell is our neutral stimulus.
This neutrality, however, is temporary. To change the neutral stimulus into something meaningful, it needs to be paired with another stimulus. Usually, this is something that automatically triggers a response, which we'll talk about next.
Here's what to remember about neutral stimuli:

• Starts without any specific impact.
• Doesn't cause a targeted reaction initially.
• Requires pairing with a specific stimulus to become significant.

Understanding this is the first step in realizing how associations are built in classical conditioning.

Unconditioned Stimulus

The unconditioned stimulus (US) is a key player in classical conditioning. This type of stimulus automatically and naturally triggers a response without the need for prior learning or conditioning. Let's use food as an example. For a dog, food is an unconditioned stimulus because it naturally causes the dog to salivate without any training.
The magic of the unconditioned stimulus lies in its power to affect behavior naturally. When the unconditioned stimulus is paired repeatedly with a neutral stimulus, it paves the way for learning. Here are some important aspects of the unconditioned stimulus:

• It automatically triggers a response.
• No prior conditioning is necessary for this response.
• Critical for associating with a neutral stimulus to create a conditioned response later.

Understanding the natural effectiveness of the unconditioned stimulus makes sense of its essential role in the conditioning process.

Conditioned Response

The conditioned response (CR) is the result of pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus over time. Through this process, the neutral stimulus transforms into a conditioned stimulus (CS). The conditioned response is essentially the learned reaction to this now meaningful stimulus. For example, if a dog starts to salivate when hearing a bell, this salivation is the conditioned response. It's not just automatic but learned because the dog now associates the bell with the expectation of food. Here’s what characterizes a conditioned response:

• It is a learned reaction after consistent pairing.
• Reflects the effect of the newly conditioned stimulus.
• Symbolizes the success of classical conditioning.

Understanding how a conditioned stimulus can lead to a conditioned response helps in grasping the overall mechanism of learning through classical conditioning.