Conditioned inhibition and excitation in operant discrimination learning.

Abstract

PAVLOV'S PROCEDURE FOR DEMONSTRATING CONDITIONED INHIBITION WAS MODIFIED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SKINNER'S OBJECTIONS TO IT, AND WAS APPLIED TO THE CASE OF A DISCRIMINATED OPERANT. A STIMULUS THAT HAD BECOME A SIGNAL FOR NOT RESPONDING WHEN PAIRED WITH 1 EXCITATORY STIMULUS WAS SHOWN TO HAVE AN INHIBITORY EFFECT ON A 2ND EXCITATORY STIMULUS THAT WAS CLEARLY DISCRIMINATED FROM THE 1ST. A 2ND EXPERIMENT SHOWED THAT TRAINING WHICH LEADS TO CONDITIONED INHIBITION WHEN A STIMULUS IS PAIRED WITH NONREINFORCEMENT LEADS TO CONDITIONED EXCITATION WHEN A STIMULUS IS PAIRED WITH REINFORCEMENT. APPROPRIATE CONTROLS INSURE THAT THESE EFFECTS ARE NOT DUE TO EXTERNAL INHIBITION OR DISINHIBITION. (17 REF.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)