27. An animal is trained with a standard Pavlovian conditioning procedure. Then, during the extinction trials, the experimenter observes the results shown in the graph above. What conclusion can be drawn about the result that is circled on the graph?
Answer: A
Spontaneous recovery is occurring.
The result circled on the graph indicates that the animal is displaying a return of conditioned responses after a period of extinction, which is characteristic of spontaneous recovery. This suggests that the previously conditioned response can re-emerge even after the extinction phase has taken place.
A) Spontaneous recovery is occurring.
This option is correct as it directly correlates with the observation of the circled result on the graph. The phenomenon of spontaneous recovery refers to the reappearance of a conditioned response after a rest period during which no conditioning occurs, which aligns perfectly with the observed behavior of the animal in the extinction trials.
B) The extinction procedure has failed.
While it might seem that the appearance of a conditioned response indicates a failure of extinction, this interpretation overlooks the nature of spontaneous recovery. Extinction can be successful in decreasing the conditioned response, but spontaneous recovery can still occur, indicating that this option does not accurately reflect the situation.
C) The animal has probably participated in a learned helplessness procedure in the past.
This option is incorrect as learned helplessness pertains to a different type of conditioning and response pattern, primarily associated with a lack of control over events leading to a state of passivity. The observed results do not support the notion of learned helplessness but rather reflect the dynamics of classical conditioning and spontaneous recovery.
D) The conditioned stimulus (CS) in the training must have been different from the CS used during extinction.
This option is also incorrect. For spontaneous recovery to be observed, the conditioned stimulus must remain the same throughout both training and extinction phases. Any change in the CS would invalidate the conditioning and the subsequent observations, making this option inconsistent with the principles of Pavlovian conditioning.
Conclusion
The correct answer, A, clearly demonstrates the phenomenon of spontaneous recovery, indicating that even after extinction, conditioned responses can return under certain conditions. Other options fail to capture the essence of the observed behavior, either misinterpreting the results or introducing irrelevant concepts that do not apply to the context of Pavlovian conditioning.