Higher-Order Conditioning In ABA

Higher-order conditioning is a type of classical conditioning where a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus by being paired with another conditioned stimulus rather than an unconditioned stimulus. This process allows for more complex associations to form, as one conditioned stimulus can be used to condition another neutral stimulus.

Here's a simple explanation and example:

**Explanation:**
- In classical conditioning, a neutral stimulus (NS) becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS) by being paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US) that naturally elicits an unconditioned response (UR).
- In higher-order conditioning, you take a CS that has already been conditioned with a US and pair it with a new neutral stimulus (NS2).
- Over time, the new neutral stimulus (NS2) also becomes a conditioned stimulus (CS2) because it is associated with the original conditioned stimulus (CS1).

**Example:**
1. **First-Order Conditioning:**
    - **Unconditioned Stimulus (US):** The smell of food.
    - **Unconditioned Response (UR):** Feeling hungry when smelling food.
    - **Neutral Stimulus (NS1):** A bell ringing.
    - **Conditioned Stimulus (CS1):** The bell ringing becomes associated with the smell of food.
    - **Conditioned Response (CR):** Feeling hungry when the bell rings.

2. **Higher-Order Conditioning:**
    - **New Neutral Stimulus (NS2):** A flashing light.
    - **CS1 (The bell) is paired with NS2 (The flashing light).**
    - Over time, the flashing light (NS2) becomes associated with the bell (CS1), which is already linked to the smell of food.
    - **Conditioned Stimulus 2 (CS2):** The flashing light becomes a new conditioned stimulus.
    - **Conditioned Response:** Feeling hungry when the flashing light is seen.

In this way, the original conditioned response (feeling hungry) can be triggered by the new CS2 (flashing light) without the presence of the unconditioned stimulus (smell of food).