A previously neutral stimulus that has gained the ability to function as a reinforcer through pairing is best described as?

A previously neutral stimulus that has gained the ability to function as a reinforcer through pairing is best described as a conditioned reinforcer. This term specifically refers to a stimulus that, after being associated with a primary reinforcer (such as food or water, which naturally reinforce behavior), takes on value and can reinforce behavior itself.

For example, if a bell is rung before presenting food to a dog multiple times, the dog may eventually respond to the sound of the bell alone, expecting food and becoming reinforced by the sound. This demonstrates how a neutral stimulus becomes conditioned.

In contrast, a primary reinforcer involves stimuli that are naturally reinforcing due to biological needs (e.g., food, water) without any prior conditioning required to establish their reinforcing properties. Generalized conditioned reinforcers refer to a type of conditioned reinforcer that has been associated with multiple primary reinforcers and thus can reinforce a wide variety of behaviors. Unconditioned reinforcers are stimuli that have inherent values without the need for prior learning or conditioning. Thus, the correct term for a formerly neutral stimulus that has gained reinforcing properties through teaching and pairing is indeed a conditioned reinforcer.