An experimenter wants to investigate the effect of compound stimuli on Pavlovian conditioning. This is studied by pairing two CSs (a loud, high-pitched tone, and an almost silent, low -pitched tone). During the testing portion of the experiment, it is found that CRs occur to the loud, but not almost silent, tone. What has happened?
A) latent inhibition
B) priming
C) forward conditioning
D) overshadowing

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Overshadowing occurs when the presence of one CS interferes with the conditioning of another stimulus that is being presented at the same time. In this case, the loud, high-pitched tone (which is likely more salient and attention-grabbing) has overshadowed the almost silent, low-pitched tone and become the dominant CS that elicits the CR.

An Experimenter Wants to Investigate the Effect of Compound Stimuli