Learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it.
Habituation
An organism's decreasing response to a stimulus with repeated exposure to it.
Fixed-interval Schedule
In operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.
Primary Reinforcer
An innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need.
Punishment
An event that decreases the behavior it follows.
Negative Reinforcement
Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a reponse, strengthens the response. (Note: negative reinforcement is not punishment.)
Positive Reinforcement
Increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.
Spontaneous Recovery
The reappearance, after a pause, of an extinguished conditioned response.
Acquisition
In classical conditioning, the initial stage, when one links a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response. In operant conditioning, the strengthening of a reinforced response.
Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
In classical conditioning, a stimulus that unconditionally -- naturally and automatically -- triggers a response.
