Choice alternation. II. Exposure to stimulus or stimulus and place without choice.

Abstract

Two experiments were performed to test whether exposure to either the black or white stimuli of the maze, when outside the maze, or exposure to the black or white goal boxes in the maze itself would influence a subsequent free choice of the animal when introduced into a T maze with black and white alternatives. In experiment I, 6 animals were detained in exposure boxes under four different conditions: (a) 30-min. exposure in small boxes; (b) 30-min. exposure in large boxes; (c) 15-min. exposure in large boxes; and (d) 30-sec. exposure in large boxes. In 54.2% of the subsequent choices, the animals approached the exposure color. A test with 40 animals at 45-sec. exposure produced a 50% choice of the exposure color. The conclusion is that such pre-exposure to the stimulus color has no effect on the subsequent choice. In experiment II, 24 animals were placed for 45 sec. each in one of the goal boxes, and after a 30-sec. pause placed at the starting point. These animals seem not to choose the opposite of the exposure condition. Two partial replications confirmed the finding of no effect of such exposure. There is a significant difference between each of these results and the large tendency to alternate obtained by Walker et al. when the animal is exposed to one of the alternatives in an initial choice and then has a second opportunity to choose.