Abstract
Unconditioned stimulus (US) intensity and duration were manipulated to determine their effects on cat hindlimb flexion conditioning. Seven consecutive days of acquisition training of a hindlimb flexor response to a tone conditioned stimulus (CS) were followed by 2 days of extinction. Eight animals in each of 12 groups received a 1-, 2-, 3-, or 4-mA, 60-Hz shock delivered to the right hindleg for 25, 50, or 100 msec as the US. Analysis of conditioned-response (CR) frequency indicated that conditioned responding was a positive function of both the intensity and duration of shock, although these variables did not interact with one another. CR latency and amplitude were decreased and increased, respectively, by increases in US intensity. The pattern of results reported here may support a contiguity notion of conditioning, and are discussed in the context of other conditioning preparations.
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Portions of this work were supported by the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Research, Grant 81-08-023, and funds from the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
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Polenchar, B.E., Romano, A.G., Steinmetz, J.E. et al. Effects of US parameters on classical conditioning of cat hindlimb flexion. Animal Learning & Behavior 12, 69–72 (1984). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199815
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03199815