Effects of CSs for food and water upon rats barpressing for different magnitudes of food reinforcement
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1979
Disciplines
Psychology
Abstract
Forty-eight albino rats were first exposed to randomly intermixed, noncontingent presentations of one pellet, six pellets, and water. For each of three groups, a CS+ was paired with one of the reinforcers, while the other two reinforcers and a CS− were presented alone. Then half the subjects experienced a six-pellet reward and half experienced a one-pellet reward for leverpresses during a light SD. Finally, on test trials, the CS+ or CS− was compounded with the light. Latencies on test trials indicated that responding for the one-pellet reward was significantly more disrupted by a CS+ for six pellets than by the CS+ for one pellet or the CS+ for water. Responding for the six-pellet reward was disrupted by the CS+ for one pellet somewhat more than by the CS+ for six pellets or water, but not significantly so. This pattern of results is partially consistent with an associative model of transfer and appears to contradict a motivational account of such effects.
Recommended Citation
Wielkiewicz, R. M. (1979). Effects of CSs for food and water upon rats barpressing for different magnitudes of food reinforcement. Animal Learning and Behavior, 7(2), 246-250. doi:10.3758/BF03209279
Comments
DOI:10.3758/BF03209279 This paper is part of a dissertation submitted to the Graduate Division of the University of Hawaii in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the PhD degree in psychology. Preparation of this manuscript was supported by a grant to the Center for Research in Human Learning, University of Minnesota, from NICHHD (T36-HD-07151).