For years, Sylvester the cat has been fed canned tuna that has been opened with an electric can opener. Now Sylvester races into the kitchen every time he hears the can opener. What is the conditioned stimulus in this example?
A) the tuna
B) Sylvester's owner
C) the sound of the can opener
D) running to the kitchen

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The conditioned stimulus in this example is the sound of the can opener. Over time, Sylvester has learned to associate the sound of the can opener with the presentation of the food, and now this sound alone triggers his response of running to the kitchen.

For Years, Sylvester the Cat Has Been Fed Canned Tuna