Question 1

Under which of the following conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus pairing conditions does learning usually occur most quickly?

Accepted Answer

Forward short-delay pairing is most effective because the conditioned stimulus is presented just before the unconditioned stimulus, creating a strong association.

Question 2

You are conducting an experiment in which you are trying to manipulate the immune response of rats by using the principles of classical conditioning. First, for several days of an experiment, you give rats artificially sweetened water with an immune system-enhancing drug in it. You later remove the drug and notice that the immune
Systems of rats are boosted when they consume the sweetened water. In your experiment, what is the unconditioned response (UCR)?

Accepted Answer

The unconditioned response (UCR) is the naturally occurring response to a stimulus. In this case, the UCR is the enhanced immune system functioning in response to the drug.

Question 3

Which type of learning alerts organisms to stimuli that signal the impending arrival of an important event?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which type of learning alerts organisms to...

Question 4

In a classical conditioning experiment that is utilizing backward pairing, the conditioned stimulus is presented after the _.

Accepted Answer

The conditioned stimulus is presented after the unconditioned stimulus in backward pairing.

Question 5

Shannon is absorbed in the latest novel and is surprised when she looks at the clock and sees that it is dinnertime. Normally, Shannon starts feeling hungry about 5:30 pm every night but now it is 6:00 pm and her stomach just started to rumble. On her way to the dining hall, Shannon starts feeling very hungry. In Shannon's case, the unconditioned stimulus is:

Accepted Answer

The unconditioned stimulus is the food at the dining hall, which naturally causes the unconditioned response of feeling hungry.

Question 6

In classical conditioning experiments, learning is typically fastest when the unconditioned stimulus is intense and the time interval between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus is _.

Accepted Answer

Learning is typically fastest when the time interval between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus is short, allowing for a clear association to be formed.

Question 7

Usually, learning through classical conditioning occurs more quickly with:

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning is most effective when the conditioned stimulus (CS) is presented shortly before the unconditioned stimulus (US), known as forward trace pairing. This timing helps the organism predict the US based on the CS.

Question 8

When Pavlov was conditioning his dogs to salivate in response to a tone, he first paired the tone with the presentation of food until the tone alone could induce salivation. In his experiments, which of the following was considered to be the unconditioned stimulus?

Accepted Answer

The unconditioned stimulus is the food, as it naturally and automatically triggers salivation without any prior conditioning.

Question 9

A child probably only needs to burn her hand on a hot stove once to learn to avoid doing this in the future. Psychologists have found that when the is particularly aversive, only one pairing is needed.

Accepted Answer

An unconditioned stimulus is something that naturally and automatically triggers a response without prior learning. In this case, the hot stove is an unconditioned stimulus that causes pain, leading to a quick learning experience.

Question 10

Shannon is used to eating dinner every night about 7:00 pm, but now that she is away at college she eats earlier because the dining hall is open from 4-6pm every night for dinner. Shannon eats dinner without feeling hungry for several weeks. Then one day while walking to the dining hall, Shannon starts feeling very hungry. Those first several weeks of eating early are considered the phase of her conditioned response.

Accepted Answer

Acquisition is the phase in which a conditioned response is established. Shannon's body has learned to associate the time she walks to the dining hall with feeling hungry, even though she initially did not feel hungry at that time.

Question 11

Pavlov is known as the one who discovered , which has been described as one of the most important discoveries in the history of psychology.

Accepted Answer

Pavlov is known for discovering classical conditioning, a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology, through his experiments with dogs.

Question 12

Karen's boyfriend gets very excited whenever he smells pizza as he walks by the pizza place where she works because whether Karen is working then or not, he still associates the place with Karen. Which of the following correctly identify the unconditioned stimulus and the conditioned stimulus?

Accepted Answer

The unconditioned stimulus is Karen, as she naturally elicits excitement. The conditioned stimulus is the pizza place, as it has become associated with Karen and now also elicits excitement.

Question 13

All of the following are circumstances under which conditioned responses are typically acquired more rapidly EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Conditioned responses are typically acquired more rapidly when the conditioned stimulus (CS) is presented before the unconditioned stimulus (UCS), not after. This is known as forward conditioning, which is generally more effective than backward conditioning (CS after UCS).

Question 14

Imagine that you wish to condition a dog to salivate in response to a particular song that you play on your CD player. Prior to beginning the learning trials, the song would be considered a(n) stimulus.

Accepted Answer

Before conditioning, the song is a neutral stimulus because it does not naturally elicit the salivation response from the dog.

Question 15

When the conditioned stimulus is presented repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus, the conditioned response will gradually weaken in a process called:

Accepted Answer

Extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus is presented repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus, leading to a gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of the conditioned response.

Question 16

You are conducting an experiment in which you are trying to manipulate the immune response of rats by using the principles of classical conditioning. First for several days of an experiment, you give rats artificially sweetened water with an immune system-enhancing drug in it. You later remove the drug and notice that the immune
Systems of rats are boosted when they consume the sweetened water. In your experiment, what is the conditioned stimulus (CS)?

Accepted Answer

The conditioned stimulus (CS) is the sweetened water, as it is the previously neutral stimulus that, after being paired with the drug, now elicits the immune response on its own.

Question 17

A researcher in a classical conditioning experiment is attempting to condition a startle response to a green light. To do this, she illuminates the light, then it goes off and then she plays a very loud noise. This experiment is utilizing what type of sequence and timing of the CS-UCS pairing?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A researcher in a classical conditioning experiment...

Question 18

Learning is typically slowest under which of the following conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus pairings?

Accepted Answer

Backward pairing is when the conditioned stimulus (CS) is presented after the unconditioned stimulus (US). This is the slowest type of conditioning because the CS does not predict the US.

Question 19

Pavlov determined that a tone triggered salivation more quickly when the size of the ________ was more intense or greater.

Accepted Answer

The unconditioned stimulus (US) is the stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response without any prior learning. In Pavlov's experiments, the US was the food, and a more intense or greater US (like more food or stronger food scent) would lead to quicker salivation.

Question 20

A researcher in a classical conditioning experiment is attempting to condition a startle response to a green light. To do this, she illuminates the light at the same time that she plays a very loud noise. This experiment is utilizing what is called simultaneous pairing of the:

Accepted Answer

In classical conditioning, simultaneous pairing involves presenting the unconditioned stimulus (loud noise) and the conditioned stimulus (green light) at the same time to establish an association.

Quiz 7: Learning and Adaptation: the Role of Experience