Abstract
Three rats were trained to escape electric shock by satisfying a continuous (CRF) and a differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) escape schedule. These escape schedules, accompanied by visual and auditory cues, were randomly alternated at 5-min intervals in a multiple-schedule format. Each escape schedule was linked with a 20-sec avoidance component (R-S=20 sec), in which responses prevented the occurrence of escape periods. Later, a differential reinforcement of low rate (DRL) escape schedule was paired with the DRO escape schedule. In general, all subjects produced the high (CRF) and low (DRO and DRL) escape rates expected. During the shock-off intervals, two of the three rats maintained higher avoidance in the CRF escape components relative to the DRO escape components, although DRO escape involved longer escape periods. The differential escape rates and avoidance performances indicated reliable stimulus control by the various cues associated with the different escape avoidance schedules employed.
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Pisacreta, R. Multiple DRO CRF escape avoidance: Contributions of shock duration and response requirements on avoidance. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 20, 227–230 (1982). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334823
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334823