Fear Conditioning

Definition

Fear conditioning is a type of learning in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a fearful or aversive event, leading to the development of a fear response to that previously neutral stimulus.

Related terms

Unconditioned Stimulus (US):

A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers an unconditioned response without any prior learning.

Conditioned Stimulus (CS):

A formerly neutral stimulus that, after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, triggers a conditioned response as a result of the association.

Conditioned Response (CR):

The learned response to a conditioned stimulus that occurs after conditioning has taken place.