title: Effects of inter-trial interval length on food-hoarding partial reinforcement of running behaviour in the golden hamster.
abstract: Food-hoarding provides an adequate motivation in sated hamsters for the acquisition of a two-way running response. This learning was studied using a discrete-trial procedure, in continuous (CR) and partial reinforcement (PR) conditions, with two different inter-trial interval (ITI) lengths. The dependent variables were: the time spent by Ss in the goal section of the runway, and the number of their runs during extinction. The PR training had two effects on goal times: a slow decrease in acquisition on non-reinforced trials, and then a stabilization at this level during the extinction phase, as contrasted with the sudden increase found in CR-trained Ss when they were switched from acquisition to extinction conditions. However, the PR effects on number of runs depended upon ITI length: resistance to extinction of PR-trained Ss was superior to that of CR-trained Ss with spaced, but not with massed, trials. In the latter case, CR-trained Ss persisted as much as did PR-trained Ss. An hypothesis is offered, along the lines of the Frustration theory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Université Paul Valéry, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Launay
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blancheteau