Rescorla (1988) demonstrated that simply pairing two events closely in time
A) demonstrates the simplicity of classical conditioning.
B) does not allow us to make predictions.
C) becomes more meaningful as the pairings continue.
D) is not what's important in this type of learning.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rescorla's experiment showed that simply pairing two events closely in time is not enough to produce classical conditioning. Instead, what is important is the predictiveness of the conditioned stimulus (CS) for the unconditioned stimulus (US). If the CS is a reliable predictor of the US, then conditioning is more likely to occur. Therefore, it is not simply the temporal proximity of the CS and US that is important, but rather the informational value of the CS in predicting the US.

Rescorla (1988) Demonstrated That Simply Pairing Two Events Closely in Time