Jesse's cat has been conditioned that the electric can opener signals the arrival of food, and the cat will run to the kitchen every time it hears the can opener. But Jesse then participates in a project at school where he must open 50 cans of beans and cook them. By the time Jesse gets halfway through the cans, he notices that the cat has disappeared. In this case, the can opener is no longer associated with the presentation of food. __________ to the can opener has occurred.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Extinction occurs when a conditioned stimulus (the can opener sound) is no longer followed by the unconditioned stimulus (food), leading to a decrease in the conditioned response (the cat running to the kitchen).

Jesse's Cat Has Been Conditioned That the Electric Can Opener