After conditioning, which statement best describes the role of the conditioned stimulus?

After conditioning, which statement best describes the role of the conditioned stimulus?

• A. After conditioning
• B. During conditioning
• C. Before conditioning
• D. Backwards conditioning

Answer: (A)

In classical conditioning, after conditioning the conditioned stimulus becomes a predictor of the unconditioned stimulus. It now signals that the US is about to occur, so the organism produces the conditioned response as a result of that prediction. Before conditioning the CS is neutral and does not elicit the response, and during conditioning it is paired with the US to form the association. Backwards conditioning, where the CS is presented after the US, is not the typical path to establish the learned signal.

In classical conditioning, after conditioning the conditioned stimulus becomes a predictor of the unconditioned stimulus. It now signals that the US is about to occur, so the organism produces the conditioned response as a result of that prediction. Before conditioning the CS is neutral and does not elicit the response, and during conditioning it is paired with the US to form the association. Backwards conditioning, where the CS is presented after the US, is not the typical path to establish the learned signal.