Decrement in distress to an aversive event during a conditioned positive opponent-process

Animal Learning & BehaviorPublished 1 December 1976Open access

Joseph D. LaBarbera, William F. Caul

Citations5

TL;DR

It was found that subjects that had received CS1-shock pairings during Phase 1 exhibited less suppression of licking to CS2, indicating less distress, than control subjects, suggesting the presence of a positive hedonic afterreaction to an aversive event which reduced distress to a following aversiveevent.

Abstract

During Phase 1, 24 rats received CS1 (light)-shock trials while the remaining 24 rats received CS1 and shock on a random control schedule. During Phase 2, all subjects were presented trials of CS2 (tone)-shock. When CS2 was subsequently presented immediately after CS, while subjects licked for water, it was found that subjects that had received CS1-shock pairings during Phase 1 exhibited less suppression of licking to CS2, indicating less distress, than control subjects. The results are compatible with the opponent-process theory and suggest the presence of a positive hedonic afterreaction to an aversive event which reduced distress to a following aversive event.

Keywords

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