classical conditioning

noun

: conditioning in which the conditioned stimulus (such as the sound of a bell) is paired with and precedes the unconditioned stimulus (such as the sight of food) until the conditioned stimulus alone is sufficient to elicit the response (such as salivation in a dog) compare operant conditioning

Examples of classical conditioning in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Associating food, or other stimuli, with unrelated cues is known as classical conditioning. —Holly Barker, Discover Magazine, 23 Sep. 2021

Anyway, the key is that there are two kinds of classical conditioning. —Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 22 Dec. 2011

In an example of classical conditioning, ferrets trained to associate a signal with a stimulus that causes a blink at regular intervals will blink at the appropriate moment after hearing the signal alone. —Jennifer Frazer, Scientific American, 28 May 2021

In the mid-20th century, Paramecium actually got the Pavlov’s dogs treatment (also called classical conditioning) several times. —Jennifer Frazer, Scientific American, 28 May 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

classical conditioning

noun

: conditioning in which the conditioned stimulus (as the sound of a bell) is paired with and precedes the unconditioned stimulus (as the sight of food) until the conditioned stimulus alone is sufficient to elicit the response (as salivation in a dog) compare operant conditioning