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The Effect of the Conditioned Emotional Response (CER) on the Subsequent Acquisition of a Temporal Discrimination
Title
The Effect of the Conditioned Emotional Response (CER) on the Subsequent Acquisition of a Temporal Discrimination.
Creator
McNeely, Joseph J., Otten, Cynthia S., Florida Atlantic University
Abstract/Description
Twenty 100 day old male rats were trained to behavioral criterion in a CER paradigm. Two shock levels (.1 and .2 ma) were employed to establish these criteria. Half of the Ss reached medium suppression (suppression ratios between .39 and .11) of a bar pressing response; half achieved high suppression (suppression ratios less than .10). The animals were subsequently exposed to 15 daily sessions of FI training utilizing a head, panel pressing response for food. Five of the medium suppression...
Show moreTwenty 100 day old male rats were trained to behavioral criterion in a CER paradigm. Two shock levels (.1 and .2 ma) were employed to establish these criteria. Half of the Ss reached medium suppression (suppression ratios between .39 and .11) of a bar pressing response; half achieved high suppression (suppression ratios less than .10). The animals were subsequently exposed to 15 daily sessions of FI training utilizing a head, panel pressing response for food. Five of the medium suppression group and five of the high suppression group were exposed to the conditioned suppression CS (a light) during the FI acquisition periods . The remaining rats underwent FI training in the absence of the CS. An Index of Curvature was employed to measure each FI period record and to indicate the degree of acquisition of FI scalloping. Analysis of variance for the four groups revealed only the progression over days to be a significant source of variation. Analysis of linear trend indicated a strong linearity in the variance over 15 days for all groups, but revealed no clear differences between the groups. Some tendencies indicate a slight superiority in acquisition by the medium suppression group which was exposed to the CS during FI training. The high suppression group which was exposed to the light was noticeably inferior in FI discrimination. These results possibly demonstrate an "arousal- interference" mechanism for the CER, but the data do not support the conclusion that the conditioned suppression signal (CS) has a differential effect on subsequent acquisition of an unrelated temporal discrimination. A history of shook treatment, or of CER training, may be responsible, however, for the overall poor acquisition of FI scalloping that was demonstrated by all four groups in this study.
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Date Issued
1969
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000799
Subject Headings
Emotional conditioning, Discrimination learning, Learning, Psychology of
Format
Document (PDF)
RELATIVE EFFICIENCIES OF TWO PROCEDURES FOR THE EXTINCTION OF DISCRIMINATED AVOIDANCE CONDITIONING
Title
THE RELATIVE EFFICIENCIES OF TWO PROCEDURES FOR THE EXTINCTION OF DISCRIMINATED AVOIDANCE CONDITIONING.
Creator
JACKSON, MASON CALVIN, JR., Florida Atlantic University, Otten, Cynthia S., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
Abstract/Description
Eighteen rats were used to study two procedures for the extinction of discriminated avoidance. One group (OE) was placed on extinction defined by presenting shocks as programmed but independently of the S's responses, while the other group (CE) was placed on classical extinction defined by the removal of all shocks. The two procedures were compared in terms of rate of decline and terminal level of extinction performance. In addition, the two groups were placed on a discrimination reversal...
Show moreEighteen rats were used to study two procedures for the extinction of discriminated avoidance. One group (OE) was placed on extinction defined by presenting shocks as programmed but independently of the S's responses, while the other group (CE) was placed on classical extinction defined by the removal of all shocks. The two procedures were compared in terms of rate of decline and terminal level of extinction performance. In addition, the two groups were placed on a discrimination reversal task in order to assess each procedure's effects on a new learning problem. The CE group reached a lower level of extinction performance in a fewer number of blocks than the OE Ss. Furthermore, the CE Ss were inferior to the OE Ss in terms of discrimination reversal performance as well. An interpretation of the results in terms of the removal and reinstatement of cues was offered although an alternative explanation relating to a change in the motivational states of the two groups during extinction was also presented. The interpretation in terms of the presence or absence of cues seemed to account for more of the present findings than the traditional one advocating changes in motivational levels resulting from the two divergent extinction operations.
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Date Issued
1971
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13433
Subject Headings
Extinction (Psychology), Discrimination learning, Avoidance (Psychology)
Format
Document (PDF)