Effects of pattern of reinforcement and verbal information on acquisition, extinction, and spontaneous recovery of the eyelid CR.

Abstract

This study was an investigation of the effects of certain patterns of reinforcement on the acquisition, extinction, and spontaneous recovery of the eyelid conditioned response (CR). One general purpose of the study was to obtain information as to the degree that verbal information (and presumably self-instruction) may affect extinction and spontaneous recovery in the eyelid CR. The conditioned stimulus (CS) was a light and the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) was a corneal air puff. Four patterns of reinforcement were investigated: 100% reinforcement (Group 100%), 50% random reinforcement (Group R), double-alternation reinforcement (Group DA), and double-alternation reinforcement with a trial counter and complete knowledge of the sequence of reinforced trials (Group DAC). In addition, the effects of telling S at the beginning of extinction or spontaneous recovery that the air puff would no longer be presented were observed. The principal findings were as follows: (1) Groups DA and R produce the same degree of conditioning in acquisition, but Group DAC showed a considerably lower level of response than the other two groups reinforced 50% of the time. (2) In Group DA, neither the nonvoluntary nor voluntary Ss responded significantly more to the reinforced than to the nonreinforced trials; however, in Group DAC, the voluntary Ss responded significantly more to the reinforced trials. (3) Knowledge of cessation of the UCS produced a significant decrement of response during the first five extinction trials with both nonvoluntary and voluntary Ss. (4) Considerable spontaneous recovery was found on the first five-trial block followed by rapid extinction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)