EFFECTS OF AN INFORMATIONAL STIMULUS ON ACQUISITION OF AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOR IN RATS

Describes 7 experiments in which 49 female Wistar rats were trained on an avoidance response (Ra) either with or without the normal CS-termination contingency. Lack of this contingency was found to impair acquisition of Ra in most but not all situations. In situations where the impairment was found it was largely overcome by the introduction of an informational or feedback stimulus contingent upon Ra. Results suggest that the amount, and kind, of stimulus change produced by Ra is the most important factor in avoidance learning. The CS-termination contingency is 1 relatively ineffectual kind of stimulus change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.