What is the term for a learned connection between two or more objects or events, especially significant in classical conditioning?

The term "association" refers to the learned connection formed between two or more objects or events, particularly in the context of classical conditioning. In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus that elicits an unconditioned response. Over time, the neutral stimulus becomes associated with the unconditioned stimulus and elicits a similar response on its own. This process highlights the core principle of how associations are formed, as the individual learns to connect the previously neutral stimulus with the response it now triggers.

In contrast, conditioning is a broader term that encompasses both classical and operant conditioning, focusing on how behaviors are learned over time through different processes. Reinforcement specifically refers to any consequence that increases the likelihood of a preceding behavior being repeated, while extinction involves the disappearance of a learned behavior when it is no longer reinforced. In this context, "association" is the most accurate term to describe the learned connection central to classical conditioning.