Dr. Cho runs a lab studying learning in rats. Rats typically show a fear response (like freezing) when presented with a loud noise. Dr. Cho pairs a loud noise with a flash of light repeatedly until the rats freeze at the light alone. In this study, what is the conditioned stimulus?

• A. The rat.
• B. The fear response (freezing)
• C. The light.
• D. The loud noise.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the unconditioned stimulus (US) in the scenario, which is the loud noise that naturally causes the fear response (freezing) in rats without any prior learning.
2. Identify the unconditioned response (UR), which is the natural reaction to the unconditioned stimulus. In this case, it is the fear response (freezing) to the loud noise.
3. Determine the neutral stimulus (NS) before conditioning, which is the flash of light. Initially, the light does not cause the rats to freeze.
4. Understand the process of conditioning, where the neutral stimulus (light) is repeatedly paired with the unconditioned stimulus (loud noise) until the neutral stimulus alone elicits the response.
5. Recognize that after conditioning, the previously neutral stimulus (light) becomes the conditioned stimulus (CS), as it now triggers the conditioned response (CR), which is the fear response (freezing) in the absence of the loud noise.