All conditioned motivating operations (CMOs) are motivationally neutral prior to their relation with another MO or stimulus.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes true
• D. Never

Answer: (A)

CMOs are stimuli that don’t have motivational value by themselves until they’ve learned a relation to another MO or to a reinforcer. Once that learning occurs, the CMO changes the current value of a reinforcer or the effectiveness of a reinforcer, thereby altering future behavior. Because their motivational effect is acquired through that learning history, they are neutral before the establishing relation is formed. After the relation is established, they can function to increase or decrease the value of a reinforcer (establishing or abolishing operations) and may take forms like surrogate, transitive, or reflexive CMOs depending on how the relation is set up. For example, a neutral cue that has been paired with hunger can become a CMO that increases the value of food and the likelihood of seeking it.