What characterizes stimulus discrimination?

Stimulus discrimination is characterized by the ability of an organism to differentiate between similar stimuli and respond only to the specific stimulus that has been conditioned, while exhibiting a reduced or no response to other similar stimuli. This process involves learning that not all stimuli will elicit the same response, allowing an individual to respond appropriately to the distinct characteristics of the conditioned stimulus. For instance, if a dog is trained to respond to a specific tone, it may not respond to different tones that are similar but slightly varied.

The chosen option correctly describes this phenomenon, emphasizing the learning aspect of recognizing and not responding to stimuli that resemble the conditioned one, thereby signifying the organism's ability to distinguish between these stimuli. Other potential responses would misrepresent this concept, as they suggest broader responses to stimuli or reinforcement without the necessary discrimination aspect.