Stimulus discrimination

Stimulus discrimination is a learning process where an individual or animal learns to distinguish between different stimuli and respond appropriately to each. For example, if a dog is trained to sit when it hears a specific whistle but not when it hears a similar sound, it has learned to discriminate between the two stimuli. This ability helps organisms react correctly to specific cues in their environment, improving their chances of positive outcomes and survival. Discrimination involves recognizing subtle differences, allowing a precise and appropriate response to diverse stimuli.