Instrumental conditioning of the heart rate in the curarized rat.

Abstract

Rats, previously trained to bar press for electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB), received ESB on an FI [fixed interval] schedule for either relatively fast or relatively slow heart rate levels while their skeletal musculature was completely paralyzed by d-tubocurarine chloride. 15 of 19 Ss [subjects] rewarded for fast heart rates increased their heart rates during a training period, while 15 of 17 Ss rewarded for slow heart rates decreased their heart rates. Rats yoked to experimental Ss in either reinforced group failed to show similar changes. The results suggest that instrumental learning of the heart rate is possible even when the possibility of skeletal muscle mediation is eliminated.