Abstract
Using a light (L) as the reinforced CS and a tone (T) as the conditioned inhibitor, rabbits received conditioned inhibition (CI) training of the nictitating membrane response. In Experiment 1, animals were matched in terms of initial acquisition to L and T, using electric shock to the eye as the UCS to form three groups. Group 100 received 100 CI trials per single daily session, Group 200 received 200 CI trials per single daily session, and Group 100/100 received 200 daily trials in two sessions separated by an interval of approximately 3 h. Each unit of 100 trials consisted of 50 reinforced L trials (L+) and 50 nonreinforced L-T compound trials (LT-). The development of suppressed conditioned responding over the course of 1,300 CI trials and the results of a retardation test (T+) failed to detect differences among these three trials-distribution procedures. Experiment 2 examined the development of CI using the two-session/day procedure with intersession intervals of 3 and 6 h. No differences in CI were apparent over the course of 2,000 trials or in the retardation test. These findings suggest robust CI can be obtained with relatively massed training and that theories of CI might minimize the role of distribution of training in their formulations.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Reference Note
Moore, J. W. Contextual constraints on Pavlovian inhibitory control. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, New Orleans, September 1974.
References
Frey, P. W., & Gavin, W. Overnight incubation of a partially conditioned eyeblink response in rabbits. Animal Learning & Behavior, 1975,3, 114–118.
Gormezano, I., & Moore, J. W. Classical conditioning. In M. H. Marx (Ed.), Learning: Processes. Toronto: Collier-Macmillan, 1969.
Hupka, R. B., Massaro, D. W., & Moore, J. W. Yoked comparisons of instrumental-avoidance and classical conditioning of the rabbit nictitating membrane response as a function of interstimulus interval and number of trials per day. Psychonomic Science, 1968, 12,93–94.
Kehoe, E. J., & Gormezano, I. Effects of trials per session on conditioning of the rabbit’s nictitating membrane response. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1974, 4, 434–436.
Mahoney, W. J., Kwaterski, S. E., & Moore, J. W. Conditioned inhibition of the rabbit nictitating membrane response as a function of CS-UCS interval. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1975,5, 177–179.
Marchant, H. G., III, MIS, F. W., & Moore, J. W. Conditioned inhibition of the rabbit’s nictitating membrane response. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1972, 95,408–411.
Marchant, H. G., III, & Moore, J. W. Below-zero conditioned inhibition of the rabbit’s nictitating membrane response. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1974,102, 350–352.
Moore, J. W., Yeo, C. H., Oakley, D. A., & Steele-Russell, I. Conditioned inhibition of the nictitating membrane response in neodecorticate rabbits. Behavioural Brain Research, 1980, 1, 397–410.
Romano, A. G. Trials distribution and UR excitability in conditioned inhibition of the rabbit’s nictitating membrane response. Unpublished master’s thesis, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1978.
Salafia, W. R., Mis, F. W., Terry, W. S., Bartosiak, R. S., & Daston, A. P. Conditioning of the nictitating membrane response of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as a function of length and degree of variation of intertriai interval. Animal Learning & Behavior, 1973, 1, 109–115.
Salafia, W. R., Terry, W. S., & Daston, A. P. Conditioning of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) nictitating membrane response as a function of trials per session, ISI, and ITI. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1975, 6, 505–508.
Schull, J. A conditioned opponent theory of Pavlovian conditioning and habituation. In G. H. Bower (Ed.), The psychology of learning and motivation (Vol. 13). New York: Academic Press, 1979.
Solomon, P. R. Role of the hippocampus in blocking and conditioned inhibition of the rabbit’s nictitating membrane response. Journal of Comparative and Phvsiological Psvchologv, 1977, 91,407–417.
Wagner, A. R., & Rescorla, R. A. Inhibition in Pavlovian conditioning: Application of a theory. In R. A. Boakes & M. S. Halliday (Eds.), Inhibition and learning. London: Academic Press, 1972.
Zimmer-Hart, C. L., & Rescorla, R. A. Extinction of Pavlovian conditioned inhibitors. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1974, 86, 837–845.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported in part by NSF Grant BNS 77-14871 to the fifth author.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Allan, A.M., Desmond, J.E., Stockman, E.R. et al. Efficient conditioned inhibition of the rabbit’s nictitating membrane response with massed training. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 16, 321–324 (1980). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329555
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329555