Development of a conditioned positive reinforcer through removal of an aversive stimulus.

Abstract

To test the prediction that neutral stimuli paired with termination of shock will acquire positive reinforcing characteristics, 3 groups of 10 rats were trained to terminate shock and buzzer by bar pressing. For Group 1 only the response was followed immediately by a 3-sec. light. In a single-alley runway with buzzer present, entrance into the goal box terminated the buzzer for all groups and for Groups 1 and 2 turned on a 3-sec. light. Group 1 required significantly more runs to reach extinction. Groups 2 and 3 did not differ from each other. It is concluded that a positive secondary reinforcer may be established without initially serving as a discriminative stimulus.