Persistence of punished escape response.

Abstract

Escape behavior was studied as a function of strength of punishing shock in extinction and of incentive shock in training. 3 training levels (95, 155, 215 v.) and 4 extinction levels (0, 95, 155, 215 v.) were combined in a factorial design. Ss were 120 male rats randomly assigned. After 20 massed escape trials in a runway, extinction trials with shock at midpoint proceeded to a criterion of 2 10-sec. trials or a limit of 60 trials. Punishment decreased trials to criterion (p= .01) independently of extinction voltage or of training voltage. Punished Ss ran faster and [image]extinguished[image] more abruptly than controls.