A loud clap startles an animal, but it is not associated with any danger. Over time, the animal begins responding less to the clapping sounds. What is this an example of?

A loud clap startles an animal, but it is not associated with any danger. Over time, the animal begins responding less to the clapping sounds. What is this an example of?

• A. Habituation
• B. Classical conditioning
• C. Sensitization
• D. Fixed action pattern

Answer: (A)

Habituation is being tested here. It’s a simple form of learning where an animal’s response to a repeated, non-harmful stimulus decreases over time. The loud clap initially startles the animal, but because it’s not linked to any danger and is experienced repeatedly without negative consequences, the animal learns that the sound isn’t meaningful. Over time the startle response weakens. This differs from classical conditioning, where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with something significant (like food or a reward) to evoke a response after learning. It also differs from sensitization, which would make the animal react more strongly to the stimulus rather than less. And it isn’t a fixed action pattern, which is a hard-wired sequence of behavior triggered by a specific cue.

Habituation is being tested here. It’s a simple form of learning where an animal’s response to a repeated, non-harmful stimulus decreases over time. The loud clap initially startles the animal, but because it’s not linked to any danger and is experienced repeatedly without negative consequences, the animal learns that the sound isn’t meaningful. Over time the startle response weakens.

This differs from classical conditioning, where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with something significant (like food or a reward) to evoke a response after learning. It also differs from sensitization, which would make the animal react more strongly to the stimulus rather than less. And it isn’t a fixed action pattern, which is a hard-wired sequence of behavior triggered by a specific cue.