Runway performance in relation to runway-goal-box similarity and changes in incentive amount.

Abstract

Three groups of 16 rats each received 31 daily trials in a runway for 16, 4, or 1 pellets of food per trial. Then for 15 trials all groups received 4 pellets per trial, followed by 7 extinction trials and 7 retraining trials at 4 pellets reward. 1/2 of each group ran into a goal box of the same color and floor texture as the runway, and 1/2 into a goal box of different color and floor texture. A depression effect obtained after the first shift and persisted through extinction and retraining. Some evidence of an elation effect obtained during extinction only. Degree of runway-goal-box similarity had no manifest effect on performance.