Rats drink a saccharin solution and then are injected with something that makes them slightly ill. They learn to avoid the saccharin solution. What is unusual about this type of learning?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The unusual aspect of this type of learning is that the taste and illness can be separated by hours, suggesting that the rats are learning through a process called taste aversion conditioning, which is a form of classical conditioning. Unlike other forms of classical conditioning, taste aversion conditioning can be formed even with a delay between the conditioned stimulus (the saccharin solution) and the unconditioned stimulus (the illness). This is because taste aversion conditioning is thought to have evolved as a survival mechanism to help animals avoid ingesting potentially poisonous food.

Rats Drink a Saccharin Solution and Then Are Injected with Something