In what way does learned taste aversion not seem to follow the basic principles of classical conditioning?
Multiple Choice
Learned taste aversion can occur after only a single CS-UCR pairing
Learned taste aversion takes longer to develop than do most classical conditioning processes.
Learned taste aversion is subject to biologically based constraints while, classical conditioning is not
In learned taste aversion, the CS and the unconditioned response (UCR) are separated by only a brief interval.
The correct answer and explanation is :
Correct Answer:
Learned taste aversion can occur after only a single CS-UCR pairing.
Explanation:
Learned taste aversion does not follow the basic principles of classical conditioning in a key way: it can develop after just one exposure to a particular food or drink that causes illness. This is different from typical classical conditioning, which usually requires multiple pairings of the conditioned stimulus (CS) and the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) to establish a strong association.
Classical conditioning, first studied by Ivan Pavlov, involves repeated pairings of a neutral stimulus (CS) with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that naturally triggers a response (UCR). Over time, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus that elicits the conditioned response (CR) on its own. However, learned taste aversion is an exception to this rule because it can occur after just one exposure if the association between the food (CS) and illness (UCR) is strong.
This one-trial learning is an adaptive survival mechanism. If an organism consumes something toxic and gets sick, quickly learning to avoid that food increases the chances of survival. This phenomenon has been widely observed in both animals and humans.
Another unique feature of learned taste aversion is that the CS (food) and UCS (illness) can be separated by a long delay, sometimes several hours, which contradicts the usual requirement in classical conditioning that the two stimuli must be presented close together in time. This suggests that biological preparedness plays a major role in learned taste aversion, making it an example of how evolution has shaped learning mechanisms to enhance survival.
Thus, learned taste aversion is an exception to traditional classical conditioning because it requires only one CS-UCS pairing to establish a strong and lasting conditioned response.
Here is an illustration representing learned taste aversion. It shows a rat consuming food (CS) and later experiencing sickness (UCR), highlighting the unique delay in conditioning. Let me know if you need any modifications or further explanations!