Sara has found that when she opens the cupboard door to get the cat food, the cats come running to the kitchen. Sara knows that this is classical conditioning and that the conditioned stimulus is the ________.

A) cupboard door opening
B) cat food
C) running of the cats
D) cat

Conditioned Stimulus

A previously neutral stimulus that, after becoming associated with an unconditioned stimulus, eventually comes to trigger a conditioned response.

Cupboard Door

A movable panel used to cover the opening of a cupboard, providing access to the contents inside and often serving to protect those contents.

Cat Food

A formulated pet food specifically designed to meet the dietary needs of cats.