Abstract
Upon leaving an elevated runway to enter a darkened chamber, different groups of rats were given a single electric shock of 0.125, 0.250, or 0.500 mA for 1, 3, or 9 sec. Retention trials, during which latency to enter the darkened chamber and defecation were recorded, were given immediately (30 sec) or 3, 24, or 48 h after the shock trial. Latency and defecation were directly related to both the intensity and duration of the electric shock. No interaction between shock intensity and duration was observed. Response latency was inversely related to the retention interval and, although there was more defecation during the 3-h than during the immediate retention test, this could be interpreted as a recency effect rather than as the incubation of fear.
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This research was conducted while the senior author was on leave of absence from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, N.Y. 14642 and supported by U.S.P.H.S. Grant 1-K05-MH06318 from the National Institute of Mental Health
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Ader, R., Weijnen, J.A.W.M. & Moleman, P. Retention of a passive avoidance response as a function of the intensity and duration of electric shock. Psychon Sci 26, 125–128 (1972). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03335453
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03335453