Which observation was most directly responsible for redirecting Pavlov's research from the study of digestive reflexes to investigations of conditioning?
A) the finding that salivary secretions could be collected by implantation of a fistula
B) the finding that in adult dogs persistent saliva secretions accompany eating
C) the finding that the secretion of saliva was elicited, via a reflex mechanism, by food in the mouth
D) the finding that stimuli that were initially neutral could eventually elicit digestive reflexes

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The finding that stimuli that were initially neutral could eventually elicit digestive reflexes was the observation that led Pavlov to redirect his research to investigate conditioning. This discovery demonstrated the possibility of a link between neutral stimuli and reflex responses, which formed the basis for Pavlov's experiments on classical conditioning.

Which Observation Was Most Directly Responsible for Redirecting Pavlov's Research