Brief exposure to contingent reinforcement produces a sustained increment in the strength of an elicited response.
Squirrel monkeys' lever pressing produced by response-independent shock was measured before, and for an extended period following, exposure to a shock-avoidance procedure. Following avoidance training, the frequency of responding increased by multiples of 10 to 50 across subjects and evidence little or no decrement for up to 6 months of postreinforcement testing. Manual responding produced by intense environmental stimulation may be substantially strengthened by a brief history of reinforcement, such that it is sustained over long periods without reinforcement.
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003116:Color; D010856:Columbidae; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D004597:Electroshock; D005502:Food; D008297:Male; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule
D002746:Chlorpromazine