Stimulus-Response Pairings

Definition

Stimulus-response pairings refer to the process in which a response becomes associated with a particular stimulus through classical or operant conditioning.

Analogy

Think of stimulus-response pairings like setting an alarm on your phone. The sound of the alarm (stimulus) is paired with you waking up (response). Over time, just hearing that specific sound can make you feel alert, even if it's not your wake-up time.

Related terms

Unconditioned Stimulus (US): A stimulus that naturally triggers a response without any learning needed.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS): A previously neutral stimulus that, after being repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus, eventually triggers a conditioned response.

Conditioned Response (CR): The learned reaction to the conditioned stimulus.