Delay of reinforcement in instrumental discrimination learning of rats

Authors

John G. Carlson
Richard M. Wielkiewicz, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1972

Disciplines

Psychology

Abstract

Assigned 4 groups of 8 male albino rats each to a 2-choice discrimination task. Ss were reinforced for pressing 1 lever in the presence of 1 auditory stimulus and for pressing an alternative lever in the presence of a 2nd auditory stimulus. Acquisition of the discrimination was retarded when reinforcement was delayed for all or a random half of the correct responses in the presence of each stimulus. However, performance was facilitated when reinforcement was delayed for all of the correct responses in the presence of 1 stimulus but not the other. Results are interpreted in terms of both classical and operant mediational processes.

Comments

DOI:10.1037/h0033531

Recommended Citation

Carlson, J. G., & Wielkiewicz, R. M. (1972). Delay of reinforcement in instrumental learning of rats. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 81(2), 365-370. doi:10.1037/h0033531