After successful classical conditioning, the originally neutral stimulus becomes a what?

After successful classical conditioning, the originally neutral stimulus becomes a what?

• A. Unconditioned stimulus
• B. Conditioned stimulus
• C. Neutral stimulus
• D. Secondary cue

Answer: (B)

In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus after it is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus that naturally elicits a reflex. Through this association, the neutral stimulus gains meaning and starts to trigger a response on its own. That newly acquired cue is the conditioned stimulus, and the response it evokes is the conditioned response. It’s not the unconditioned stimulus, which would still provoke the reflex without any learning, and it’s not still neutral, since it has acquired the ability to signal the coming event. The term “secondary cue” isn’t the standard terminology for this process.

In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus after it is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus that naturally elicits a reflex. Through this association, the neutral stimulus gains meaning and starts to trigger a response on its own. That newly acquired cue is the conditioned stimulus, and the response it evokes is the conditioned response. It’s not the unconditioned stimulus, which would still provoke the reflex without any learning, and it’s not still neutral, since it has acquired the ability to signal the coming event. The term “secondary cue” isn’t the standard terminology for this process.