Running and Bar Pressing as Avoidance Responses

Abstract

Running and bar-pressing avoidance behavior by white rats were compared in order to elucidate problems associated with the latter. The running response was acquired rapidly bur the press response was not. This result was attributed to a difference in training procedures; shocks were postponed for the duration of a run but not for the duration of a press. When shocks were postponed for press durations the press response was rapidly acquired. The inference that bar-pressing avoidance may develop out of bar-holding avoidance was supported by experimental data.