discriminative stimulus
[/ˌdɪˈskrɪmɪnətɪv ˈstɪmjuləs/]
nounpl: discriminative stimuli
estímulo discriminativo
1. In behavioral psychology and learning theory, a stimulus that signals the availability or non-availability of reinforcement; a cue that an organism learns to distinguish from other stimuli to predict consequences
The red light serves as a discriminative stimulus indicating that pressing the lever will produce food
A luz vermelha funciona como um estímulo discriminativo indicando que pressionar a alavanca produzirá alimento
2. A sensory cue that controls behavior by indicating when a particular response will be reinforced or punished
Dogs learn to recognize the discriminative stimulus of their owner's keys to predict a walk
Cães aprendem a reconhecer o estímulo discriminativo das chaves do dono para prever um passeio
This is a specialized psychological and behavioral science term widely used in academic and research contexts in both the United States and Brazil. It was popularized by B.F. Skinner's work on operant conditioning. The concept is fundamental to understanding animal training, behavior modification, and educational psychology across both cultures.
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