In Pavlov's experiment, what serves as the neutral stimulus?

In Pavlov's experiment, what serves as the neutral stimulus?

• A. The meat powder.
• B. The salivation response.
• C. The bell.
• D. The dog.

Answer: (C)

In Pavlov's experiment, a neutral stimulus is something that initially does not elicit the response of interest. The meat powder naturally causes the dog to salivate, so it is the unconditioned stimulus and the salivation to the meat powder is the unconditioned response. The bell, on the other hand, starts off not causing salivation, making it a neutral stimulus. After repeatedly pairing the bell with the meat powder, the dog begins to salivate to the bell alone, so the bell becomes a conditioned stimulus and salivation to the bell becomes the conditioned response. The dog is just the subject involved in the experiment.

In Pavlov's experiment, a neutral stimulus is something that initially does not elicit the response of interest. The meat powder naturally causes the dog to salivate, so it is the unconditioned stimulus and the salivation to the meat powder is the unconditioned response. The bell, on the other hand, starts off not causing salivation, making it a neutral stimulus. After repeatedly pairing the bell with the meat powder, the dog begins to salivate to the bell alone, so the bell becomes a conditioned stimulus and salivation to the bell becomes the conditioned response. The dog is just the subject involved in the experiment.