Question

define discrimination in classical conditioning. then, describe how a researcher would teach an animal to discriminate between relevant and irrelevant stimuli. use classical conditioning terms in your response.

Answer 1

Discrimination in classical conditioning involves an organism learning to show a conditioned response only to a conditioned stimulus and not to similar irrelevant stimuli, which could be taught through consistent pairing and then presenting irrelevant stimuli without the unconditioned stimulus.

Step-by-step explanation:

Discrimination in classical conditioning refers to the process whereby an organism learns to respond differently to various stimuli that are similar. The organism will show the conditioned response only to the specific conditioned stimulus but not to other similar stimuli, known as the irrelevant stimuli. For example, through training, Pavlov's dogs learned to discriminate between the sound of a bell that indicated food was coming and other similar sounds. In a research setting to teach an animal to discriminate between relevant and irrelevant stimuli, a researcher would consistently pair the conditioned stimulus (like a tone) with the unconditioned stimulus (such as food). Over time, the animal would learn to associate the conditioned stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus, demonstrating the conditioned response (like salivation). However, if another similar stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus, the animal learns that this irrelevant stimulus does not predict the unconditioned stimulus and does not perform the conditioned response.