Abstract
In Phase 1, four groups of rats received either large or small food reward in a black or white straight alley. In Phase 2 all rats received small food reward in the white alley. Rats that had received large reward in Phase 1 ran more slowly in Phase 2 to small reward than did rats that received small reward in both phases (successive negative contrast effect, or NCE). There was a temporary decrement in running speed for both groups that experienced a change in alley color, but the size of the NCE was not reduced by the change in alley color. It was suggested that the NCE can be used to measure the strength of connection between a particular cue and reward expectancies in instrumental learning situations. Within this context, the present results suggest that, under the conditions employed in this experiment, alley color was not strongly associated with reward expectancies.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Black, R. W. Shifts in magnitude of reward and contrast effects in instrumental and selective learning: A reinterpretation. Psychological Review, 1968, 75, 114–126.
Bower, G. H. A contrast effect in differential conditioning. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1961, 62, 196–199.
Capaldi, E. D., Smith, N. S., & White, L. A. Control of reward expectancies by drive stimuli. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes, 1977, 3, 156–177.
Cleland, E. A., Williams, M. Y., & DiLollo, V. Magnitude of negative contrast in relation to drive level. Psychonomic Science, 1969, 15, 121–122.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Capaldi, E.D. Effects of changing alley color on the successive negative contrast effect. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 12, 69–70 (1978). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329628
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329628