Abstract
Thirty-two rabbits were run in an experiment that showed interference of nictitating membrane conditioning with presentation of one US alone between each paired trial. This conclusion is based on comparisons with yoked control Ss with the same number of paired trials, but no US-alone trials. Differences between experimental and control Ss were most pronounced at a comparatively short ITI, supporting Papsdorf’s consolidation theory over Rescorla’s contingency hypothesis. This study also elaborated previous results indicating that, prior to the appearance of the first CR, the UR on US-alone trials progressively decreases in amplitude in relation to UR amplitude on paired trials.
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This research was supported by NSF Grant GB-8634.
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Grevert, P., Moore, J.W. The effects of unpaired US presentations on conditioning of the rabbit’s nictitating membrane response: Consolidation or contingency. Psychon Sci 20, 177–179 (1970). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03335659
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03335659