Abstract
Two rat experiments were run to study the effects of a wide range of signal (CS) intensities on the suppression of licking. In Experiment 1, a light CS was varied over five levels, including zero intensity. Conditioned suppression was found to vary directly with CS intensity, but basal lick rates were not different among groups. In Experiment 2, an attempt was made to disturb the basal rate of licking, while a tone CS was varied over four levels, including zero intensity. Here the suppression of the CS rates was found to be directly related and basal rates inversely related to CS intensity. The results as a whole were consistent with the Perkins-Logan hypothesis regarding the effects of CS intensity upon conditioning, but not with the Rescorla-Wagner model of classical conditioning.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Gray, J. A. Stimulus intensity dynamism.Psychological Bulletin, 1965,63, 180–196.
Hull, C. L. Stimulus intensity dynamism (V) and stimulus generalization.Psychological Review, 1949,56, 67–76.
Imada, H., &Okamura, M. Some cues rats can use as predictors of danger and safety.Animal Learning & Behavior, 1975,3, 221–225.
Imada, H., &Soga, M. The CER and BEL as a function of predictability and escapability of an electric shock.Japanese Psychological Research, 1971,13, 115–122.
Kamin, L. J. Temporal and intensity characteristics of the conditioned stimulus. In W. F. Prokasy (Ed.),Classical conditioning. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1965.
Kamin, L. J., &Brimer, C. J. The effects of intensity of conditioned and unconditioned stimuli on a conditioned emotional response.Canadian Journal of Psychology, 1963,17, 194–198.
Kamin, L. J., &Schaub, R. E. Effects of conditioned stimulus intensity on the conditioned emotional response.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1963,56, 502–507.
Logan, F. A. A note on stimulus intensity dynamism (V).Psychological Review, 1954,61, 77–80.
Nageishi, Y., &Imada, H. Suppression of licking behavior in rats as a function of predictability of shock and probability of conditioned-stimulus-shock pairings.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1974,87, 1165–1173.
Odling-Smee, F. J. The role of background stimuli during Pavlovian conditioning.Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1975,27, 201–209.
Perkins, C. C., Jr. The relation between conditioned stimulus intensity and response strength.Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1953,46, 225–231.
Rescorla, R. A., &Wagner, A. R. A theory of Pavlovian conditioning: Variations in the effectiveness of reinforcement and nonreinforcement. In A. H. Black & W. F. Prokasy (Eds.),Classical conditioning II: Current theory and research. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1972.
Seligman, M. E. P. Chronic fear produced by unpredictable electric shock.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1968,66, 402–411.
Seligman, M. E. P. Control group and conditioning: A comment on operationism.Psychological Review, 1969,76, 484–491.
Seligman, M. E. P., Maier, S. F., &Solomon, R. L. Unpredictable and uncontrollable aversive events. In F. R. Brush (Ed.),A versive conditioning and learning. New York: Academic Press, 1970.
Weiss, J. M. Somatic effects of predictable and unpredictable shock.Psychosomatic Medicine, 1970,32, 397–408.
Yoshida, T., Kai, M., &Imada, H. A methodological study of CER in rats with “licking” as the criterion response.Japanese Psychological Research, 1969,11, 66–75.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The present research was supported by a grant in aid of research awarded to Hiroshi Imada by the Murao Foundation, Kobe, Japan.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Imada, H., Yamazaki, A. & Morishita, M. The effects of signal intensity upon conditioned suppression: Effects upon responding during signals and intersignal intervals. Animal Learning & Behavior 9, 269–274 (1981). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03197830
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03197830