Abstract
Truly random sequences of tone CSs and shock USs were given to groups of rats, then conditioned fear to the CS was measured using a conditioned suppression procedure. Subjects exhibited an excitatory CR to the CS following truly random training independently of whether or not a background white noise continued through the presentation of the CS during conditioning and testing. It was concluded that the presence of the white noise during the CS did not block excitatory conditioning to the CS as had been predicted by Rescorla (1972).
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Reference Notes
Benedict, J. O. Factors affecting conditioned suppression in the absence of a CS-US contingency. Unpublished masters thesis, University of Massachusetts, 1971.
Keller, R. J. Effects of extended exposure to the truly random control procedure. Unpublished masters thesis, University of Massachusetts, 1974.
References
Annau, Z., & Kamin, L. J. The conditioned emotional response as a function of intensity of the US. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1961, 54, 428–432.
Ayres, J. J. B., & Quinsey, V. L. Between groups incentive effects on conditioned suppression. Psychonomic Science, 1970, 21, 294–296.
Benedict, J. O., & Ayres, J. J. B. Factors affecting conditioning in the truly random control procedure in the rat. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1972, 78, 323–330.
Bull, J. A., & Overmier, J. B. Additive and subtractive properties of excitation and inhibition. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1968, 66, 511–514.
Kremer, E. F. Truly random and traditional control procedures in CER conditioning in the rat. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1971, 76, 441–448.
Kremer, E. F., & Kamin, L. J. The truly random control procedure: Associative or non-associative effects in the rat. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1971, 74, 203–210.
Quinsey, V. L. Conditioned suppression with no CS-US contingency in the rat. Canadian Journal of Psychology, 1971, 25, 69–82.
Rescorla, R. A. Pavlovian conditioning and its proper control procedures. Psychological Review, 1967, 74, 71–80.
Rescorla, R. A. Probability of shock in the presence and absence of CS in fear conditioning. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1968, 66, 1–5.
Rescorla, R. A. Informational variables in Pavlovian conditioning. In G. H. Bower and J. T. Spence (Eds.), The psychology of learning and motivation. New York: Academic Press, 1972.
Rescorla, R. A., & Wagner, A. R. A theory of Pavlovian conditioning: Variations in the effectiveness of reinforcement and nonreinforcement. In A. Black and W. F. Prokasy (Eds.), Classical conditioning II. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1972.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This research was supported by Grant BG 36982 from the National Science Foundation to John J. B. Ayres. We wish to thank J. O. Benedict, W. Mahoney, H. Marchant, and J. W. Moore for their helpful comments.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Witcher, E.S., Ayres, J.J.B. Effect of removing background white noise during CS presentation on conditioning in the truly random control procedure. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 6, 25–27 (1975). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03333134
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03333134