Dr. Rubio is conducting an experiment in classical conditioning. Shortly after playing music, she places a loaf of bread on the window sill outside her office window. After doing this a number of times, she notices that now, just as she begins to play her music, several birds fly to her window even before she presents the bread. In this example, what is the conditioned stimulus?

• A. The bread
• B. The sound of the window opening
• C. Dr. Rubio's lab coat
• D. The music

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of classical conditioning, which involves learning through association. In this process, a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.
2. Identify the unconditioned stimulus (US) in the scenario. The unconditioned stimulus is something that naturally and automatically triggers a response without any prior learning. In this case, the bread is the unconditioned stimulus because it naturally attracts the birds.
3. Determine the unconditioned response (UR), which is the natural reaction to the unconditioned stimulus. Here, the unconditioned response is the birds flying to the window when they see the bread.
4. Identify the neutral stimulus (NS) that is initially unrelated to the unconditioned response. In this scenario, the music is the neutral stimulus because it initially does not cause the birds to fly to the window.
5. Recognize the conditioned stimulus (CS) after the conditioning process. The conditioned stimulus is the previously neutral stimulus that, after being paired with the unconditioned stimulus, now triggers a conditioned response. In this example, the music becomes the conditioned stimulus because it now causes the birds to fly to the window even before the bread is presented.