Context modulation of US signal value following explicit and nonexplicit training.
Context modulation of an unconditioned stimulus (US) signal value was examined in three groups of rats. In Group A+/B-, subjects received explicit training in which a single food pellet US was followed by three additional pellets after either a short delay (in Context A) or a long delay (in Context B). Two other groups received nonexplicit training in which subjects received either the same conditions in Context A, but simple exposure to Context B (Group A+/Bo), or the same conditions in Context B, but simple exposure to Context A (Group Ao/B-). In the test, only Group A+/B- showed significantly more magazine entries shortly after the single food pellet in Context A, compared to Context B. Implications for theories of occasion setting and context modulation are considered.
Goddard
Murray J.
MJ
Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, New Brunswick, E2L 4L5, Saint John, Canada