Which statement correctly contrasts habituation and sensitization?

Which statement correctly contrasts habituation and sensitization?

• A. Habituation is a decrease in response with repetitive exposure; sensitization is an increased response.
• B. Both are increases in response.
• C. Habituation increases responsiveness; sensitization decreases it.
• D. Both are forms of reinforcement.

Answer: (A)

Habituation and sensitization describe how a dog’s reaction to a stimulus changes with repeated exposure. Habituation happens when the stimulus is non-threatening and the dog’s response gradually decreases over time as it becomes familiar. Sensitization is the opposite: after a salient or aversive experience, the stimulus becomes more notable and the dog's response grows stronger. So the statement that habituation is a decrease in response with repetitive exposure and sensitization is an increased response correctly contrasts the two. Examples help: habituation is the dog ignoring a hum from a fan or a vacuum cleaner after repeated exposure; sensitization is the dog reacting more strongly to being touched or to a sound after a painful or frightening experience. These are non-associative learning processes, distinct from reinforcement or conditioning.

Habituation and sensitization describe how a dog’s reaction to a stimulus changes with repeated exposure. Habituation happens when the stimulus is non-threatening and the dog’s response gradually decreases over time as it becomes familiar. Sensitization is the opposite: after a salient or aversive experience, the stimulus becomes more notable and the dog's response grows stronger. So the statement that habituation is a decrease in response with repetitive exposure and sensitization is an increased response correctly contrasts the two.

Examples help: habituation is the dog ignoring a hum from a fan or a vacuum cleaner after repeated exposure; sensitization is the dog reacting more strongly to being touched or to a sound after a painful or frightening experience. These are non-associative learning processes, distinct from reinforcement or conditioning.