The process by which a conditioned stimulus acquires the ability to elicit a conditioned response through repeated pairings with the UCS

The process by which a conditioned stimulus acquires the ability to elicit a conditioned response through repeated pairings with the UCS

• A. Acquisition
• B. Conditioning
• C. Generalization
• D. Extinction

Answer: (A)

Acquisition is the learning phase in classical conditioning when a neutral stimulus starts to predict the unconditioned stimulus because of repeated CS–UCS pairings. As those pairings continue, the subject learns that the CS signals that the UCS is coming, and the conditioned response gradually appears and strengthens, eventually reaching a stable level. This distinguishes acquisition from conditioning as a whole (the general process of forming associations), and from other phenomena like generalization (CR to stimuli similar to the CS) or extinction (the CR diminishing when the CS is presented without the UCS).

Acquisition is the learning phase in classical conditioning when a neutral stimulus starts to predict the unconditioned stimulus because of repeated CS–UCS pairings. As those pairings continue, the subject learns that the CS signals that the UCS is coming, and the conditioned response gradually appears and strengthens, eventually reaching a stable level. This distinguishes acquisition from conditioning as a whole (the general process of forming associations), and from other phenomena like generalization (CR to stimuli similar to the CS) or extinction (the CR diminishing when the CS is presented without the UCS).