conditioned reflexes

Conditioned reflexes, a concept developed by Ivan Pavlov, are automatic responses that occur in reaction to a specific stimulus after repeated pairings. For example, if a dog hears a bell before being fed regularly, it will eventually salivate upon hearing the bell alone, even without food present. This process involves learning to associate one stimulus with another, transforming a natural reflex (like salivation) into a conditioned response. Essentially, conditioned reflexes illustrate how behaviors can be learned through experience and association, shaping reactions based on prior events.