What is the key difference between spontaneous recovery and extinction?
Explain with reference to an example.
In extinction, the CR (salivation) no longer occurs following the presentation of the CS (bell) because the UCS (food) hasn't been presented alongside the bell (CS) for a number of trials. E.g. In extinction, pressing a buzzer (CS) that once foreshadowed a mild electric shock (UCS) may no longer induce fear or anxiety (CR) because the pressing of the buzzer did not cause the mild electric shock for a number of trials.
However, in Spontaneous Recovery, there is a reappearance of the CR when the CS has been presented after a rest period. So pressing the buzzer (CS) would still be associated with mild electric shock (UCS) that would still cause fear and anxiety (CR) - HOWEVER, the feeling of fear/anxiety upon pressing the buzzer would be much less than it was during the initial acquisition stage
Or something like that