Habit strength as a function of drive in a brightness discrimination problem.

Abstract

Three groups of rats learned a black-white discrimination (white positive) under three hunger conditions. Each group divided into three subgroups corresponding to the three drive levels and retrained to black-positive. The lack of difference between the two low drive groups during original and reversal learning led to a two parameter definition of drive (function of total deprivation time and deprivation at time of running). Superiority of the high drive group on all measures of original learning and greater resistance to extinction during reversal was explained on the basis of the initial extinction of differences during reversal learning and it was concluded that habit strength is a function of drive during learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)