What type of conditioning defines Conditioned Taste Aversion (CTA) as a survival mechanism based on a single negative experience?
Answer
Single-trial conditioning
Conditioned Taste Aversion (CTA) is characterized as single-trial conditioning because it requires only one instance where the taste of a consumed item is immediately followed by sickness or illness for the brain to form a lasting, often strong, avoidance association. This mechanism is highly efficient for survival, as it quickly links potential toxins or poisons with the resultant sickness, even if the consumed food was not the actual cause of the illness. This rapid learning process distinguishes CTA from other forms of associative learning that might require repeated pairings.

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