Effects of positional relations between subject, CS, and US on shuttle-box avoidance learning in cats.

Abstract

Sixteen cats were trained in a shuttle-box avoidance situation, 1/2 learning to move toward the source of CS and the other 1/2 away from it to avoid or escape the fear or pain producing stimuli. The incidence of competing responses and the learning of the avoidance response were significantly prolonged in animals which had to move toward CS when compared with those which jumped away from it. The results of this and other studies were discussed relative to the hypothesis that avoidance responses are learned via the development of a classically conditioned fear response and the subsequent extinction of competing components of the fear-produced responses coincident with the growth of the avoidance response.