Classical nictitating membrane conditioning in the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): Single alternation with differential intertrial intervals.

Abstract

Investigated single alternation (SA) patterning behavior in 24 albino New Zealand rabbits by varying in 7 experiments the intertrial intervals (ITIs) following reinforced (R) and nonreinforced (N) trials. When short ITIs followed R trials and long ITIs followed N trials, reliable SA patterning was obtained. Neither (a) the presence of differential ITI cues, (b) the short ITIs prior to the N trials, nor (c) the early position of the N trial within the R-R interval were sufficient in and of themselves to support substantial patterning behavior; instead, each of these features apparently contributed to the patterning effect in a combined fashion. It is concluded that R- and N-trial aftereffects do not play an important role in conditioning the rabbit nictitating membrane. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)