Real-time processing of serial stimuli in classical conditioning of the rabbit's nictitating membrane response.
Real-time models contend that a conditioned stimulus (CS) gives rise to a cascade of hypothetical stimuli that govern conditioned responses (CRs) on a moment-by-moment basis. Experiments with the rabbit nictitating membrane response successfully extended these models to external stimuli. CSs were trained in sequence with an unconditioned stimulus (CSA-CSB-US). When the CSA-CSB interval was shortened, the CR was compressed; when the CSA-CSB interval was lengthened, the CR was broadened. Peaks appeared at 2 places, namely, 1 following CSA by a period equal to its CS-US interval and another following CSB by its CS-US interval. Outside the sequence, the individual CSs evoked CRs located between their respective CS-US intervals. When, however, the 2 CSs were trained separately, the CRs were appropriate to their respective CS-US intervals when tested alone or in sequence. The results are discussed in terms of the J.E. Desmond and J.W. Moore (1988) and S. Grossberg and N.A. Schmajuk (1989) models.
Kehoe
E J
EJ
School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
Horne
P S
PS
Macrae
M
M
Horne
A J
AJ
D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D003215:Conditioning, Eyelid; D005260:Female; D011939:Mental Recall; D011817:Rabbits; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012691:Serial Learning