Discriminated avoidance learning as a function of parameters of discontinuous shock.

Abstract

The parameters of discontinuous shock, which has been shown to facilitate markedly discriminated bar-press avoidance learning in the rat, were investigated in a study in which 3 values of on time (. 2, . 5, and 1. 0, and 2. 0 sec.). It was concluded from the resulting data, as well as from other results, that the optimal values of discontinuous shock were 2 sec. off time and as brief an on time as would guarantee receipt of shcok during every on period. Percentage of escape responses executed during off periods correlated highly with avoidance performance (rho = .864); escape latency correlated less well (rho = . 733). The facilitory effect of discontinuous shock was ascribed primarily to enhanced generalization of the escape response to the preshock period.