Final answer:
Spontaneous recovery is the re-emergence of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period of no exposure to the conditioned stimulus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon that happens when a behavior occurs again in the future after it had been eliminated with extinction is called spontaneous recovery. Spontaneous recovery is the return of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a rest period. This occurs when the conditioned stimulus alone is presented, after a break, and the behavior that was thought to be extinct comes back. For example, if you stop using an electric can opener that a cat has previously associated with getting food, the cat's response will diminish over time due to extinction. However, if you start using that can opener again after a break, the cat may once again show excitement and run to the kitchen, illustrating spontaneous recovery.