A novel contextual dimension for use with an operant chamber: from simple to hierarchical forms of learning.
A novel procedure is described in which the floor temperatures (warm and cool) in an operant chamber are used as contextual cues in 2 experiments with rats. Experiment 1 demonstrated that rats learn the relationship between these thermal contexts and auditory stimuli that have been paired with them. Experiment 2 showed that thermal contexts can serve a conditional function that (a) reflects the operation of a mechanism that is common to conventional, visual contexts and (b) is bound to these contexts' ability to retrieve the nature of the relationship between the auditory stimuli and food.
Ward-Robinson
J
J
School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom. ward-robinsonj@cf.ac.uk
Honey
R C
RC
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D003463:Cues; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats / Q000523:psychology*; D013696:Temperature