Inescapable shock interferes with the acquisition of an appetitive operant

Animal Learning & BehaviorPublished 1 June 1978Open access

Robert A. Rosellini

DOI10.3758/bf03209594

Citations95

TL;DR

Reinforcer generality of the interference effect resulting from exposure to inescapable shock is reported and the results demonstrate reinforcer generability of the debilitating effects produced by inescapables shock.

Abstract

This article reports the reinforcer generality of the interference effect resulting from exposure to inescapable shock. In Experiment 1, rats that received inescapable shock showed weak interference with the acquisition of an appetitive operant compared to animals exposed either to escapable or no shock. In Experiment 2, the response-reinforcer contingency was degraded by introducing a 1-sec delay of reinforcement on the appetitive task. Inescapable shock produced much stronger interference with the acquisition of the operant response than in Experiment 1. The results demonstrate reinforcer generality of the debilitating effects produced by inescapable shock.

Keywords

PsychologyNeuroscience

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