spontaneous recovery

American  

[spon-tey-nee-uhs ri-kuhv-uh-ree] / spɒnˈteɪ ni əs rɪˈkʌv ə ri /

noun

1. Psychology. the unexpected revival of a conditioned response after its association with the stimulus has been erased.

   Spontaneous recovery was first demonstrated by Pavlov (1927) and has since been repeated in several studies.

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spontaneous recovery British  

noun

1. psychol the reappearance of a response after its extinction has been followed by a period of rest

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Etymology

Origin of spontaneous recovery

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

According to Burda, this improved debris removal may help explain why some patients experience partial, spontaneous recovery after spinal cord injury.

From Science Daily • Feb. 13, 2026

They added that while it's lovely for people to be able to see them, it probably does not signify a spontaneous recovery of an extinct species.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2023

Syncope is the medical term for a transient loss of consciousness with spontaneous recovery resulting from inadequate blood flow to the brain.

From Salon • Aug. 28, 2022

If they have success with those patients, whose chances of spontaneous recovery are almost nil, they’ll know with more certainty that the ultrasonic device is working.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2019

The obstinacy of the attacks in many instances under anti-periodic medication seems to make it probable that spontaneous recovery from intermittent hardly belongs to the typical natural history of the disease.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various