Ivan Pavlov (physiologist)

Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist best known for his research on conditioned reflexes. He discovered that animals, like dogs, could learn to associate a neutral stimulus (such as a bell) with an unconditioned stimulus (like food) that naturally triggered a response (salivation). Over time, the neutral stimulus alone would provoke the response, demonstrating learned behavior. This process, called classical conditioning, revealed how associations form in the brain, significantly influencing the understanding of learning and behavior in psychology. Pavlov’s work laid foundational principles for behavioral science and conditioned responses.