1.5 Definition of Discriminative Stimulus
The next term is discriminative stimulus, which is a stimulus in the presence of which a given response has a history of being reinforced. For example, if a hungry lab rat receives a pellet (reinforcement) for pressing a bar only when a red light is on, the red light is probably functioning as a discriminative stimulus.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Stimulus | A physical energy change capable of affecting an organism through one of its receptors: photoreceptors, phonoreceptors, chemoreceptors (gustatory and olfactory), mechanoreceptors (touch), thermoreceptors, and free nerve endings. |
| Discriminative Stimulus | A stimulus in the presence of which a given response has a history of being reinforced. |
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