"Ambiguous conditioning," a phenomenon of bilateral transfer.

Abstract

6 dogs were conditioned to withdraw the right forepaw by means of the buzz-shock method. The response was extinguished and then reconditioned. Following this the shock was transferred to the left forepaw and records taken of the movement of both fore-feet during the conditioning of the left forepaw. The original conditioning of the right foot required the largest number of stimulations, the conditioning of the left foot the next highest, and the reconditioning of the right foot the lowest number. Three animals failed to extinguish the right foot response completely during the conditioning of the left foot, and actually made more withdrawals of the right foot during this time. The term "ambiguous conditioning" is given to this phenomenon of lifting both feet to the conditioning stimulus. Ambiguous conditioning is probably a case of slow or delayed transfer which would disappear with prolonged stimulation.