Abstract
The effect of cue-reversal as a function of amount of prior learning on a shock-motivated black-white discrimination was measured in 35 albino rats. Four groups of Ss were run to a criterion of 18 correct responses in 20 consecutive trials, one group receiving no reversal, a second group receiving a single reversal trial on trial 1, a third group receiving a reversal trial immediately after reaching a 5/6 criterion, and the fourth group receiving its reversal immediately after reaching a 9/10 criterion. In addition, 8 Ss from the nonreversed group were given a reversal trial after meeting the 18/20 criterion and were then run to the same criterion once again. The effects of cue-reversal proved to be nonmonotonically related to amount of prior learning. No effect occurred until some learning had manifest itself, and the effect was fairly constant over the moderate ranges of learning. Reversal after the 18/20 criterion had no effect.
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This investigation was supported in part by fund 8200 of the Neuropsychology Laboratory, USVA Hospital, Kansas City.
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Sheridan, C.L., Bennett, C.N. The effects of cue-reversal as a function of amount of prior learning on a shock-motivated discrimination. Psychon Sci 2, 207–208 (1965). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03343408
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03343408