A bell was sounded by Pavlov and then two minutes later a plate of meat powder was presented to the dog. We would term this arrangement as ____ conditioning.

Correct option is B

-Trace conditioning refers to a form of classical conditioning where the conditioned stimulus (CS), in this case, the bell, is presented and then removed before the unconditioned stimulus (US), the meat powder, is introduced. In trace conditioning, there is a time gap between the CS and US, but the CS still provides a mental trace that helps the subject associate the two stimuli.
-In this scenario, the bell is sounded, and then a delay of two minutes occurs before the meat powder is given. The association between the bell and the meat powder is formed because the dog has a "trace" of the bell in its memory when the meat powder is introduced.

Information Booster

Types of Conditioning

1. Delay Conditioning:
1.1. In delay conditioning, the conditioned stimulus (CS) and unconditioned stimulus (US) overlap. The CS is presented first, and the US is introduced before the CS is removed.
1.2. In this type of conditioning, the response is most likely to be learned if the CS and US overlap. The CS continues to be present during the US presentation.
1.3. Delay conditioning is very effective and commonly used in classical conditioning, as the continuous presence of both stimuli strengthens the association.

2. Trace Conditioning:
2.1. In trace conditioning, the CS is presented and removed before the US is introduced. There is a brief time gap between the two stimuli, creating a "trace" in the subject's memory.
2.2. For this method to be effective, the gap between the CS and US should not be too long; otherwise, the subject may fail to make the connection between the two.
2.3. Trace conditioning relies on the ability of the subject to retain a mental image of the CS until the US is presented, which can be more difficult for animals as the delay increases.

3. Backward Conditioning:
3.1. In backward conditioning, the unconditioned stimulus (US) is presented before the conditioned stimulus (CS).
3.2. This type of conditioning is less effective because the US often distracts from the CS, making it harder for the subject to associate the two.
3.3. Backward conditioning is not typically used in classical conditioning because it does not create a strong association between the two stimuli.

4. Forward Conditioning:
4.1. In forward conditioning, the conditioned stimulus (CS) is presented before the unconditioned stimulus (US).
4.2. This is the most common and effective form of classical conditioning, where the CS predicts the arrival of the US.
4.3. Forward conditioning is often used in Pavlov’s classical conditioning experiments and leads to a strong association between the two stimuli.