AAMC FL Practice Exam

What best describes the process of dishabituation?

1. The recovery of a response to a stimulus after habituation

2. The complete loss of response after multiple exposures

3. A conditioned response to a previously neutral stimulus

4. Increased sensitivity to a previously strong stimulus

The correct answer is: The recovery of a response to a stimulus after habituation

Dishabituation refers to the phenomenon where an individual who has become habituated to a stimulus (meaning their response to it has decreased) suddenly shows an increased response to that stimulus after a period of no exposure or due to the introduction of a new stimulus. This recovery of the response indicates that the initial stimulus had lost its salience but can regain it when conditions change, such as a break in exposure or the presence of a novel stimulus that draws attention. In the context of the other options, they describe different concepts within behavioral and psychological processes. The second option describes habituation itself rather than dishabituation. The third option pertains to classical conditioning, where a conditioned response is elicited by a previously neutral stimulus, which is distinct from the recovery of response seen in dishabituation. The fourth option discusses increased sensitivity but does not accurately reflect the recovery aspect central to dishabituation. Therefore, the correct option highlights the key idea of response recovery after habituation has occurred.