Question

If the sound of an electric can opener causes a cat to salivate because it has been associated with the presentation of food, the cat's salivation to the sound of the can opener is a(n):

Answer 1

Answer - Conditioned response

Unconditioned stimulus - Any stimulus which elicits a natural response. In this case, the unconditioned stimulus is the food presented to the cat.

Unconditioned response - Unconditioned response occurs naturally in response to the unconditioned stimulus. In the above example, cat salivates when it is presented with food. The unconditioned response is the cat's salivation (naturally occurring response)

Neutral stimulus - sound of an electric can opener

Paired association between neutral stimulus and unconditioned stimulus takes place. In other words, before presenting the food to the cat, the sound of an electric can opener is produced.

After a few repetitions, the neutral stimulus becomes the conditioned stimulus. Now, the sound of an electric can opener becomes a conditioned stimulus.

Conditioned response is similar to the unconditioned response observed earlier. The cat will start salivating at the sound of the can opener even before the food is present.

In conclusion, the cat's salivation to the sound of the can opener is a conditioned response.