Abstract
Twelve rats were trained to produce food by barpressing according to a variable-interval schedule of reinforcement. When their rates of responding had stabilized, a conditioned suppression paradigm was implemented. After asymptotic suppression was obtained and after stabilization of non-CS rates of responding, the CS for all the animals was extinguished in a novel environment, with a novel response being required for food production. When extinction of the conditioned emotional response was complete in the novel environment (i.e., a complete absence of suppression), the animals were returned to the original training environment and given the CS alone. It was found that the animals showed suppression to the CS in the original environment. It was concluded that the behavioral control of a CS is influenced by the ambient environment during initial learning.
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The authors would like to express their gratitude to L. C. Fitzhugh and B. R. Wagner for their support, to William Wolff for his encouragement and help, to Richard L. Solomon, John W. Moore, and Kay Mueller for several helpful suggestions, and to Bettye Barnes, Arvella Mastin, and Janet Justice for their typing of the manuscript.
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Hanford, P.V., Mulvaney, D.E. The effect of novel environments on CS extinction in a conditioned suppression paradigm. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 16, 341–344 (1980). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329560
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329560