When the conditioned response suddenly reappears after a period of absence it is called?

Associated with classical and operant conditioning, spontaneous recovery occurs when a conditioned response that was previously considered extinct reemerges. Spontaneous recovery is an important process, playing a role in memory, learning, trauma, and mental and physical health. In this article, we’re going to cover spontaneous recovery, its role in conditioning, and how it occurs. 

Spontaneous Recovery And Conditioning

Ivan Pavlov identified the process of spontaneous recovery as he developed the theory of classical conditioning. Pavlov realized that a dog can be conditioned to salivate when it hears a metronome by creating an association between the metronome and the food. If, however, the metronome was repeatedly presented without food, he noticed that the conditioned response (salivating) would cease, in a process called extinction. 

After a period of time, however, Pavlov reintroduced the metronome, and the dogs again began salivating. This reemergence of the conditioned response after a period of extinction is what we now refer to as spontaneous recovery. 

In addition to the above classically conditioned response, spontaneous recovery can occur in an operantly conditioned response that has been extinguished. In operant conditioning, there is a learned, voluntary response to a stimulus. For example, someone who works hard and gets a promotion at their job will likely associate hard work with economic benefit and continue that behavior. If, however, the individual repeatedly works hard but is not rewarded financially, the response may be weakened and eventually go extinct. Spontaneous recovery in this case could happen when the individual randomly receives a bonus and again associates work with more money. 

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What Causes Spontaneous Recovery?

Typically, during the process of extinction, a new association—known as an inhibitory association—is formed, often due to the presence of the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus (e.g., a metronome without food). The new association may also occur when the unconditioned stimulus is presented without the conditioned stimulus (e.g., food without a metronome). 

Spontaneous recovery can occur when the original response to a stimulus is stronger than the response created through the inhibitory association that caused extinction. In the above example, this would happen when a metronome is presented, and the dog salivates (the original response) instead of doing nothing (the inhibitory response).

Why would the dog salivate after the extinction of that response? Time is considered the biggest factor in the weakening and subsequent overriding of a secondary response. It is thought that the longer the period of time following extinction, the more likely spontaneous recovery is to occur. 

The original response can become stronger than the inhibitory response due to a lack of reinforcement of the latter. In the above example, extinction happened after the dog stopped associating the metronome with food. A stronger, inhibitory response—due to the association between the metronome and a lack of food—was created. If, however, a metronome isn’t present at all for an extended period of time, the inhibitory response may be weakened due to a lack of reinforcement. Because of this, spontaneous recovery can occur when the dog is shown the metronome and salivates—despite the presence of a secondary association between the metronome and a lack of food.

Implications For Trauma

Spontaneous recovery is thought to be the mechanism that causes a trauma response in an individual who has otherwise not shown such a reaction recently. A trauma response that was originally associated with a traumatic event can be extinguished, only to return when prompted by a specific stimulus. 

Consider an example in which an individual is in a car crash, and their initial response is to experience frequent nervousness or worry while in a car. Over time, however, that association weakens until the person no longer feels anxiety in the car—the response is extinct. However, while driving, the individual hears loud screeching tires and honking horns, and the anxiety suddenly returns. 

Traumatic memories can prompt spontaneous recovery due to an essential override of the inhibitory response. The person had developed an inhibitory response based on an association between driving (the unconditioned stimulus) and a lack of crash-related stimuli (the conditioned stimulus). But because this secondary association was not as strong as the original association, between driving and the crash, the screeching tires and horns cause the original response to occur. Such a response can lead to serious mental and physical symptoms that, if severe, may rise to the level of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Therapy methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help individuals cope with trauma. CBT works by helping individuals reframe unwanted thought patterns that may lead to maladaptive emotions or behaviors. In the above example, a therapist may work with the person to identify thoughts they have about the likelihood of crashing while driving or similar associations that may reinforce their trauma response. 

Addressing Trauma With Online Therapy

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Research shows that online therapy is an effective method of managing symptoms of trauma that may occur as a result of spontaneous recovery. A study on the efficacy of online cognitive behavioral therapy when treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) showed that online interventions could decrease symptoms arising out of trauma. Researchers noted that online therapy could not only reduce PTSD symptoms but also increase overall quality of life and decrease depression and anxiety.

If you’d like to address topics related to trauma, memory, or other mental health concerns, consider utilizing an online therapy platform like BetterHelp. If you’re uncomfortable driving to a therapist’s office or aren’t ready to discuss a certain topic face to face, a licensed BetterHelp therapist can provide you with useful trauma- or psychology-related insights remotely, through video call, voice call, or in-app messaging. You’ll also be able to utilize exercises and other resources that can help reinforce important concepts so that you may better remember them.   

Takeaway

Spontaneous recovery is a complex concept that may have applications for several different aspects of your life. If you’d like to talk through topics related to psychology or mental health, consider utilizing an online therapy platform. A licensed online therapist can provide you with valuable information and connect you with useful tools as you learn more about yourself and continue down the path to improved mental health. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is spontaneous recovery?

Spontaneous recovery is a behavioral mechanism often associated with the concept of classical conditioning developed by Russian psychologist Ivan Pavlov, though it can also be seen in operant conditioning. Spontaneous recovery refers to the unexpected reemergence of a previously extinct conditioned response. In classical conditioning, this would refer to the sudden recovery of a response to a conditioned stimulus. In operant conditioning, it would mean the reemergence of a behavior in response to a reward or punishment.

What are examples of spontaneous recovery?

There are numerous instances of spontaneous recovery that occur in everyday life. The below examples of spontaneous recovery in both classical and operant conditioning can help illustrate the concept. 

Classical Conditioning

You frequently retrieve your dog’s treats from the pantry, and the dog begins to associate your trips to the pantry with their treats. After many trips to the pantry without the treats, however, the dog starts to lose that association and even stops noticing your trips to the pantry. If, one day, you bring the dog’s attention to the pantry and the treats, they may spontaneously recover the association.  

Operant Conditioning

A student develops an association with studying hard and good grades after repeated reinforcement. Once they get to college, however, they notice that studying hard is not producing good grades. The student may stop studying as hard as a result—the conditioned behavior has gone extinct. If, however, the student happens to study hard for an exam and is rewarded with a good grade, they may spontaneously recover that learned behavior. 

What is extinction?

Extinction occurs when a conditioned response ceases, typically due to the presence of a secondary association. In the example of Pavlov’s dog, the dog ceased responding to the metronome because of repeated exposure to it without the presence of food. So, the secondary association was between the sound of a metronome and a lack of food. This is known as an inhibitory response. The relative strength of the inhibitory response compared to the original response can weaken the original response and cause extinction. 

Why does spontaneous recovery happen?

Spontaneous recovery can occur when the inhibitory response is weakened. This typically occurs over time. For example, if your dog stops noticing your trips to the pantry, they may stop associating your trips to the pantry with a lack of food, which is the inhibitory response that caused extinction in the first place. If your dog randomly notices a trip you take to the pantry, it may suddenly recover the original association and become excited about the prospect of a treat. Time is considered the most important factor in spontaneous recovery. It is thought that the longer the period of time since extinction, the higher the likelihood of spontaneous recovery occurring. 

What is it called when a conditioned response returns?

What is extinction and spontaneous?

What does reappearance of a conditioned response that has been extinguished refer to?

What is spontaneous recovery?