Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


differential conditioning

a classical conditioning experiment in which two or more stimuli are used, each paired with different outcomes. Most commonly, one stimulus (the positive conditioned stimulus, e.g., a light) is paired with an unconditioned stimulus (e.g., food), and another (e.g., a tone) is not paired. The usual outcome is that a conditioned response is elicited by the positive conditioned stimulus but not by the other stimulus.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

February 23rd 2025

psychoneuromuscular theory

psychoneuromuscular theory

a theory postulating how the use of mental imagery of an activity can improve the subsequent motor performance of that activity. It states that, during the processing of imagery, the brain sends impulses to the muscles. These impulses are identical to those that cause muscle contraction with movement but are of lower intensity. The neural pathways are thereby strengthened, facilitating the learning and performance of motor skills. Also called ideomotor principle. See also mental practice. [originally proposed in 1874 by British physiologist William Benjamin Carpenter (1813–1885)]