Acquired equivalence learning with antecedent and consequent unconditioned stimuli.
The conditions under which cues with similar training histories are treated by rats as being equivalent were examined. A significant event, food, either preceded, followed, or preceded and followed each of the Stimuli A and B; Stimulus C was not food-associated. Next, B was counterconditioned with footshock until it suppressed an appetitively motivated behavior. When A and C were tested for generalized suppression, A (treated like B) evoked more suppression than C (treated differently than B). However, this equivalence effect was strong only when A and B predicted food and were treated alike.
Johns
K W
KW
University of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Williams
D A
DA
D000818:Animals; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013997:Time Factors