Plain English Meaning
A scientist who showed that animals (and people) can be trained to react automatically to a signal if that signal is paired often enough with something that already causes the reaction. His findings helped shape how we understand habit and reflex learning.
Full Definition
Russian physiologist (1849–1936) whose experiments with dogs established the principle of classical conditioning — the process by which a neutral stimulus, repeatedly paired with a stimulus that naturally produces a response, eventually produces that response on its own. His work forms one of the foundations of behaviorist learning theory referenced in aviation instruction.
Context Anchor
Seen in the Aviation Instructor’s Handbook chapter on learning theory, especially when explaining how people form learned responses and habits.