title: The role of contextual cues in operant responding in rats.
abstract: Following lever-press training on a variable-interval 60-second schedule of food presentation, groups of rats either remained in their home cages or were exposed to the operant chamber, from which lever and food had been removed, for five sessions. The lever was replaced in the chamber and rats from Group 1 (exposure to chamber) and Group 3 (home cage) were returned to the variable-interval schedule. Although response rates in test sessions were somewhat lower than at the end of training, there was no statistically significant difference in rates for either group. Rats in Group 2 (exposure to chamber) and Group 4 (home cage) received two test sessions of extinction. During the first session, Group 2 rates of lever pressing were significantly higher than Group 4 rates. These findings do not support the view that associations between contextual cues and the reinforcer serve to energize instrumental behavior (Pearce & Hall, 1979), and provide only minimal support for the view that contextual cues control responses that compete with the operant (Mills, 1980).
authors.affiliation: Psychology Dept., University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5C2.
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Innis
authors.affiliation: Eric Martin Pavilion, Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria, B.C. Canada.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Mills