True or False: Classical conditioning is the most effective when the CS (or conditioned stimulus) comes immediately before the UCS (or unconditioned stimulus)

True or False: Classical conditioning is the most effective when the CS (or conditioned stimulus) comes immediately before the UCS (or unconditioned stimulus)

The statement is True.

In classical conditioning, the timing between the conditioned stimulus (CS) and the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) is crucial for the formation of associations. When the CS is presented immediately before the UCS, the association is more likely to be formed because the organism has a clear and identifiable link between the two stimuli. This principle is rooted in Pavlov's experiments, where dogs learned to associate the sound of a bell (CS) with the presentation of food (UCS). The closer in time these stimuli are presented, the stronger and more effective the conditioning tends to be.

In summary, for classical conditioning to be most effective, the CS should precede the UCS closely in time, thus establishing a stronger association between the two stimuli.