Final answer:
The tendency to reduce the response to repeated, unchanged stimulus is known as habituation, a simple form of non-associative learning observed across many species.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tendency to reduce the magnitude of a response following repeated stimulation is called habituation. Habituation is a form of non-associative learning where an organism reduces its response to a repeated, unchanged stimulus that is neither harmful nor rewarding. For example, prairie dogs normally alert their peers to danger with an alarm call. If they are frequently exposed to human footsteps that do not lead to harm, they gradually stop responding with an alarm, demonstrating the process of habituation. This behavior shows that habituation is specific: While the prairie dogs habituate to the sound of humans walking, they will still sound an alarm in response to potential predators.
Habituation happens across many species, indicating its fundamental role in animal behavior. Even simple organisms can exhibit habituation, responding less to stimuli over time if these stimuli are shown to be irrelevant or harmless. It's important to note that despite being a relatively simple form of learning, habituation is distinct from sensory adaptation, where sensory receptors become less sensitive to constant stimuli. Habituation involves a decrease in the behavioral response after repeated exposure to a stimulus.