In classical conditioning, what is the term for the learned response to the conditioned stimulus?

• A. Unconditioned Stimulus
• B. Conditioned Stimulus
• C. Unconditioned Response
• D. Conditioned Response

Answer: (D)

In classical conditioning, the learned response to the conditioned stimulus is the conditioned response. After a neutral cue (the conditioned stimulus) is paired with something that naturally triggers a reflex (the unconditioned stimulus), the cue itself elicits a response. This response, now learned through association, is the conditioned response. It mirrors the natural reflex but is triggered by the cue rather than the original stimulus. For example, if a bell (the conditioned stimulus) is paired with food (the unconditioned stimulus) that makes a dog salivate (the unconditioned response), the dog will salivate to the bell alone after conditioning—the conditioned response. The unconditioned stimulus is the thing that naturally elicits the reflex, the conditioned stimulus is the cue that has acquired meaning, and the unconditioned response is the reflex itself before conditioning.