Which concept refers to the learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus?

The learning process described involves a neutral stimulus becoming associated with an unconditioned stimulus, leading to the neutral stimulus eliciting a response on its own over time. This is known as classical conditioning. In this process, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus through its association with an unconditioned stimulus, which naturally elicits an unconditioned response.

For example, if a dog naturally salivates when it sees food (the unconditioned stimulus), and a bell (the neutral stimulus) is rung every time before the dog is fed, the dog will eventually start to salivate at the sound of the bell alone. This transformation illustrates the fundamental mechanism of classical conditioning, where learning occurs through associations.

The other concepts mentioned do not fit this description. Operant conditioning involves learning through consequences and rewards, while observational learning relies on watching and imitating others' behaviors. Cognitive conditioning, although not a widely recognized term, generally relates to mental processes in learning, which is separate from the associative learning seen in classical conditioning.