Abstract
Two groups of 6 rats each were trained for 24 days on a decreasing series of quantities of 45-mg food pellets 14-7-3-1-0. Throughout training there was only one series presentation (trial) per day. In Phase 1 the interrun interval (IRI) separating successive pattern elements was 15 sec for Group SSL and 15 min for Group LSL. Both groups received a 15-sec IRI for the 2 days of Phase 2 and a 15-min IRI for the 2 days of Phase 3. IRI had no effect on the rats’ learning to anticipate, or track, the 0-pellet element in Phase 1. Tracking was eliminated in Group LSL by the shift from a long to a short IRI in Phase 2, but was not affected in Group SSL by the shift from a short to a long IRI in Phase 3. This pattern of results was compared with those obtained with multiple daily trials. Implications of these results for understanding IRI effects on serial learning were discussed.
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This experiment was supported by an Arkansas State University Faculty Research Grant to the first author.
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Haggbloom, S.J., Thomas, D.H. Serial learning at one trial per day: Effects of interrun interval and interrun interval shifts. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 25, 391–393 (1987). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330377
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330377