Abstract
Appetitive stimuli, aversive stimuli, or novel stimuli of relatively low affective value were presented to rats following one-trial passive avoidance training. When tested 24 h later, the groups did not differ in retention of the passive avoidance task. The results do not support the hypothesis of Huston, Mondadori, and Waser (1974) that posttraining stimuli directly reinforce memory processing. Alternative consequences of posttraining reinforcement are discussed.
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This research was supported by National Science Foundation Grant BMS7S-Q3383 and a grant from the Faculty Award Program of the City University of New York. Ralph R. Miller is supported by National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Award MH-00061. We wish to thank Alvin Berk and John Sullivan for their suggestions and comments, and Joan Wessely for her help in preparing the manuscript.
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Marlin, N.A., Greco, C. & Miller, R.R. Effects of posttraining reinforcement upon retention of a passive avoidance task. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 11, 295–297 (1978). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336835
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336835