Abstract
Five rhesus monkeys were tested across a series of object discrimination problems requiring avoidance of noxious pressurized air. Each S displayed a progressive reduction in the number of trials to reach criterion on particular problems, eventually achieving 82% and 88% correct performance on Trials 2–6 and Trial 6. respectively. Certain error factors also appearing in appetitive discrimination learning set research (stimulus perseveration and differential cue) were identified, as well as a factor of relative unimportance in appetitive set (positional responding). A most persistent appetitive error factor presumably reflecting a tendency to explore the unchosen object (response shift) did not appear. In addition, the results extend the effectiveness of aversive airblasts to a relatively complex discrimination task.
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This investigation was supported in part by the Nutrition Foundation. Ine. Grant No 401. and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Grant No. ROI-HD-04863
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Stoffer, G.R., Zimmermann, R.R. Airblast avoidance learning sets in rhesus monkeys. Animal Learning & Behavior 1, 211–214 (1973). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199076
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199076