The Conditioned Reflex

A conditioned reflex is a learned response that occurs automatically as a result of repeated associations between two stimuli. For example, if a buzzer is consistently sounded before a dog is fed, the dog eventually begins to salivate when it hears the buzzer alone, even without food present. This process, demonstrated by Ivan Pavlov’s experiments, shows how the brain links a neutral stimulus to a natural response through training. Essentially, the conditioned reflex is a new, automatic reaction formed through experience, illustrating how behavior can be shaped by associations in the environment.