After a lengthy period during which the unconditioned stimulus was not applied, Pavlov's dogs stopped responding to the metronome. If a weaker conditioned response to the metronome occurred at some point after this, it would be a demonstration of

• A. reflex.
• B. higher-order conditioning.
• C. extinction.
• D. spontaneous recovery.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of classical conditioning, where a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus by being paired with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.
2. Recognize that extinction in classical conditioning occurs when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus, leading to a decrease in the conditioned response.
3. Identify that spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of a previously extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest and no exposure to the conditioned stimulus.
4. Consider the scenario where Pavlov's dogs stopped responding to the metronome after the unconditioned stimulus was not applied for a while, indicating extinction had occurred.
5. Note that if a weaker conditioned response to the metronome occurs after this period, it exemplifies spontaneous recovery, as the conditioned response reappears after extinction.