Final answer:
In classical conditioning, extinction is the weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus. Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a rest period.
Step-by-step explanation:
In classical conditioning, extinction refers to the weakening and eventual disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus. This occurs because the association between the two stimuli is no longer reinforced. Spontaneous recovery, on the other hand, is the reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest or time has passed.
For example, if a dog has been conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell (conditioned stimulus) paired with the presentation of food (unconditioned stimulus), and then the bell is repeatedly presented without the food, the dog will eventually stop salivating to the bell (extinction). However, if the dog is given a break from this extinction training and the bell is presented again, the dog may start salivating to the bell again (spontaneous recovery).