Avoidance Learning as a Function of Conditioned Stimulus Variables

摘要

The present report presents data concerned with the effects of varying several parameters of the conditioned stimulus (CS) on performance of an avoidance response. Findings: (1) Differences due to training procedure are of greater importance in determining avoidance of performance than are differences attributable to the direction of change of CS energy. (2) Avoidance response strength is greater if the change in CS energy is greater, irrespective of the rate or direction of the change. (3) In a shuttlebox apparatus, avoidance response strength is greater with a six second CS-US interval than with a three second interval. (4) Some of the parameters of the CS (primarily the rate of CS change) interact with each other to influence stimulus discriminability. (Author)