classical conditioning

n. The learning theories of Ivan Pavlov, in which only observable events such as stimulus conditions and change in responses are used to define and explore learning. In the basic process of classical conditioning, a new or conditioned response (CR) replaces or appears in addition to an unconditioned response (UCR) when a conditioned stimulus (CS) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that is usually followed by the unconditioned response. In the classic experiment, it was observed that when a bell was rung shortly before dogs were fed, the dogs soon began to salivate upon hearing the bell whether food was subsequently presented or not. So the UCR of salivating to UCS, food, had a CR of salivation to the bell added after pairing of the CS, bell, with the UCS, food.