Abstract
The present study employed a Pavlovian-instrumental-transfer paradigm to investigate the role of conditioned fear in appetitive discrimination learning. Each of three Pavlovian training procedures was used to establish a conditioned fear excitor (CS+), a “neutral” CS (CSo), and a conditioned fear inhibitor (CS−). Then, the CSs were administered to rats in the three groups contingent upon the rewarded response in a difficult visual discrimination. In addition, half of each group received shock punishment for each incorrect response. Relative to CSo, CS+ facilitated performance in contrast to the usual interfering effect of conditioned suppressors; conversely, CS− retarded performance even when its reinforcing action (fear inhibition) was potentiated by punishment for the incorrect response. These results, together with other findings showing a reversed outcome when the CSs are administered for the incorrect response, indicate that Pavlovian conditioning comprises both general signaling and affective functions, the former reflecting a basic “expectancy” or nominal type of cognitive processing in the rat.
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This study was supported in part by Grant MH-08482 from the National Institute of Mental Health, United States Public Health Service, and by Grant GB-24119 from the National Science Foundation.
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Fowler, H., Fago, G.C., Domber, E.A. et al. Signaling and affective functions in Pavlovian conditioning. Animal Learning & Behavior 1, 81–89 (1973). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03214567
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03214567