Performance changes in eyelid conditioning as related to the motivational and reinforcing properties of the UCS.

Abstract

"Groups A and B were conditioned with a strong air puff as the reinforcing UCS, a weak puff being presented equally often unpaired with the CS. Group A was then switched to the weak puff as the paired UCS and the strong puff unpaired. Group B was switched to the weak puff on both the paired and unpaired trials. Group C was conditioned with the weak puff paired with the CS and the strong puff unpaired, and then was switched to the reverse condition, strong puff paired and weak puff unpaired." The results were interpreted as indicating that habit strength is a function of the reinforcing UCS, that the extra unpaired puffs are effective in manipulating drive, and that once accrued, habit strength is permanent and does not decrease when conditions less favorable to habit growth are introduced. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)