One example of classical conditioning in neonatal learning is the nipple preference in newborn babies. When a baby is born, they have a natural instinct to suckle in order to feed. However, in some cases, the baby may have difficulty latching onto the mother's breast or bottle nipple, leading to frustration and difficulty in feeding.
To overcome this challenge, a caregiver may introduce a different stimulus, such as a pacifier or a different type of nipple, alongside the act of feeding. The baby learns to associate the new stimulus with feeding and soon develops a preference for it. This is an example of classical conditioning.
Over time, the baby's preference for the new stimulus becomes stronger, and they may refuse or have difficulty feeding using any other type of nipple. This preference can be beneficial if the baby initially had difficulty latching or feeding, as it allows them to continue receiving adequate nutrition.
Cassical conditioning of neonatal learning example
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