Mimi, your cat, comes running into the kitchen every time you use the electric can opener. Her vet has instructed you to switch her from canned cat food to dry cat food that comes in a bag. Which of the following will likely occur?
A)She will always come running to the sound of the electric can opener.
B)The sound of the bag will not become an effective CS for Mimi.
C)Eventually, the sound of the electric can opener will lose its status as a CS for Mimi.
D)Mimi will immediately come running to the sound of the bag and not to the sound of the electric can opener.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mimi's behavior of coming running to the sound of the electric can opener is a learned response (CR) to the conditioned stimulus (CS) of the can opener. If she is switched to dry cat food, which does not involve the use of a can opener, then the CS-food association will weaken and eventually fade, leading to extinction of the behavior. The sound of the bag is not relevant to this scenario, so option B and D are incorrect. Option A is incorrect as it suggests that Mimi will continue to respond to the can opener, even if it no longer produces the desired outcome of canned food.

Mimi, Your Cat, Comes Running into the Kitchen Every Time