In classical conditioning, what is the response called when an organism reacts only to the conditioned stimulus and not to similar stimuli?

In classical conditioning, the response referred to when an organism reacts only to the conditioned stimulus and not to similar stimuli is called stimulus discrimination. This occurs when the organism learns to distinguish between different stimuli, allowing it to respond specifically to the conditioned stimulus that has been paired with an unconditioned stimulus, and not to other, similar stimuli that are not associated with that unconditioned stimulus.

Through the process of stimulus discrimination, the organism is able to filter out irrelevant cues, displaying a more refined and focused reaction. This ability highlights the learning process in classical conditioning, showcasing how organisms adapt their responses based on their experiences with specific stimuli.

For context, stimulus generalization is the opposite concept, where an organism shows similar responses to various stimuli that resemble the conditioned stimulus. Response inhibition refers to the suppression of a response and is not directly relevant to the classical conditioning framework. Operant conditioning involves a different learning paradigm, focused on behavior modification through reinforcement and punishment, rather than learned associations between stimuli.