Abstract
Rats were trained either to press a lever or to lift a lever in order to escape shock. Although there were no appreciable differences between escape latencies, the leverlift condition eliminated virtually all of the intertrial lever holding observed under the leverpress condition. While stable escape behavior can be obtained using either the press or lift responses, the use of a leverlift requirement allows for the separate observation of lever holding and freezing, a species-specific defense reaction.
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This research was supported in part by Grant No A8264 from the National Research Council of Canada to H. M. B. Hurwitz and by a grant to Hank Davis from the Universin of Guelph Research Advisory Board.
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Davis, H., Hirschorn, P. & Hurwitz, H.M.B. Lever holding behavior during a leverlift shock escape procedure. Animal Learning & Behavior 1, 215–218 (1973). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199077
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199077