Abstract
Three experiments were conducted using an autoshaping procedure in pigeons to examine the conditions under which facilitation develops toB in anA− IBA+ paradigm. WhenB is a diffuse stimulus and A is a localized keylight, this paradigm results in B’s facilitating pecking at A. Prior inhibitory conditioning ofA promoted the development of this facilitation more successfully than did prior excitatory or control treatment of A. These results suggest that facilitation develops especially well when an inhibitory stimulus is reinforced in the presence of the diffuseB. That outcome is consistent with the view that facilitation involves the removal of inhibition.
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This research was supported by National Science Foundation Grant BNS-8308176.
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Rescorla, R.A. Facilitation based on inhibition. Animal Learning & Behavior 16, 169–176 (1988). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03209061
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03209061