Abstract
The present experiment used a transfer-of-training procedure in rabbit nictitating membrane response (NMR) conditioning to determine whether a retention interval and/or extinction could reduce associative strength. The experimental design required that groups receive 0, 3, 15, 45, 150, or 240 CS-US pairings in Stage 1. Next, the groups were given, in succession, a 10-day retention interval and 480 CS-alone trials. In Stage 2, all groups obtained 240 CS-US pairings for NMR conditioning. Another group was also employed and received only the 240 CS-US pairings in Stage 2. The results indicated that 15 to 240 CS-US pairings in Stage 1 substantially enhanced NM CR performance in Stage 2 despite the interpolation of the retention interval and CS-alone trials. When 3 CS-US pairings had been given in Stage 1, no augmentation in the NM CR performance rate occurred in Stage 2. However, the 3 CS-US pairings were effective in prohibiting the 480 CS-alone trials from retarding subsequent NM CR performance. Without any pairings in Stage 1, the 480 CS-alone trials produced strong latent inhibition of NMR conditioning in Stage 2. The data were used to support the theoretical view that associative strength resulting from CS-US pairings is relatively permanent. Moreover, the findings were relevant for an evaluation of Pearce and Hall’s (1980) recent statements concerning CS associability and the relationship between excitatory and inhibitory processes.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bissell, H. S., &Scavio, M. J., Jr. A minicomputer program for the resolution of response frequency and latency in classical conditioning preparations.Behavior Research Methods & Instrumentation, 1974,6, 439–442.
Brodgen, W. J., Lipman, E. A., &Culler, E. The role of incentive in conditioning and extinction.American Journal of Psychology, 1938,51, 109–117.
Donahoe, J. W., &Marrs, D. P. A 12-year retention of stimulus and schedule control.Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1982,19, 184–186.
Gleitman, H. Forgetting of long-term memories in animals. In W. K. Honig & P. D. R. James (Eds.),Animal memory. New York: Academic Press, 1971.
Gormezano, I. Classical conditioning. In J. B. Sidowski (Ed.),Experimental methods and instrumentation in psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1966.
Hilgard, E. R., &Marquis, D. G. Acquisition, extinction, and retention of conditioned lid responses to light in dogs.Journal of Comparative Psychology, 1935,19, 29–58.
Hoffman, H. S., Fleshler, M., &Jensen, P. Stimulus aspects of aversive controls: The retention of conditioned suppression.Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1963,6, 575–583.
Hull, C. L. Principles of behavior. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1943.
Kimble, G. A. Hilgard and Marquis’ conditioning and learning. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1961.
Lubow, R. E., &Moore, A. U. Latent inhibition: The effect of nonreinforced pre-exposure of the conditioned stimulus.Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1959,52, 415–419.
Mackintosh, N. J. A theory of attention: Variation in the associability of stimuli with reinforcement.Psychological Review, 1975,82, 276–298.
Pavlov, I. P. Conditioned reflexes. London: Oxford University Press, 1927.
Pearce, J. M., &Hall, G. A model for Pavlovian learning: Variations in the effectiveness of conditioned but not of unconditioned stimuli.Psychological Review, 1980,87, 532–552.
Rescorla, R. A., &Wagner, A. R. A theory of Pavlovian conditioning: Variations in the effectiveness of reinforcement and non-reinforcement. In A. H. Black & W. F. Prokasy (Eds.),Classical conditioning II. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1972.
Thorndike, E. L. Animal intelligence. New York: Macmillan, 1911.
Wendt, G. R. Two and one-half year retention of a conditioned response.Journal of General Psychology, 1937,17, 178–180.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The research was supported by NIMH Grant 31935-01. Robert T. Ross is now at the University of Iowa.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Scavio, M.J., Ross, R.T. & McLeod, L.M. Perseveration of associative strength in rabbit nictitating membrane response conditioning. Animal Learning & Behavior 11, 91–94 (1983). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212313
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212313