A learned stimulus–response functional relation is known as which term?

A learned stimulus–response functional relation is known as which term?

• A. Unconditioned Reflex
• B. Conditioned Stimulus
• C. Conditioned Reflex
• D. Conditioned Reinforcer

Answer: (C)

A learned stimulus–response relationship is described by a conditioned reflex. When a neutral stimulus is paired with something that naturally elicits a response, the neutral stimulus comes to trigger the same response on its own. That learning changes an automatic reflex into one that is elicited by a new, conditioned stimulus. This differs from an unconditioned reflex, which is innate and not learned. A conditioned stimulus is the signal that now prompts the reflex, and a conditioned reinforcer is about reinforcement gained through association, not about triggering a reflex. An example is the bell in Pavlov’s dogs: after pairing with food, the bell (conditioned stimulus) elicits salivation (conditioned reflex) even without food.

A learned stimulus–response relationship is described by a conditioned reflex. When a neutral stimulus is paired with something that naturally elicits a response, the neutral stimulus comes to trigger the same response on its own. That learning changes an automatic reflex into one that is elicited by a new, conditioned stimulus. This differs from an unconditioned reflex, which is innate and not learned. A conditioned stimulus is the signal that now prompts the reflex, and a conditioned reinforcer is about reinforcement gained through association, not about triggering a reflex. An example is the bell in Pavlov’s dogs: after pairing with food, the bell (conditioned stimulus) elicits salivation (conditioned reflex) even without food.