Classical conditioning in the goldfish as a function of the CS-UCS interval.

Abstract

Experiments on classical aversive conditioning in goldfish were designed to test hypotheses about the role of CS-US interval suggested by earlier experiments on avoidance conditioning in goldfish. Light was paired with shock, and general activity which light came to evoke was measured. The performance of independent groups trained at different CS-US intervals (0-27 sec.) was compared on interspersed testing trials at the same long interval (20 or 40 sec.) in terms both of total activity and of temporal distribution of activity on testing trials. The results help account for certain quantitative features of goldfish behavior in the shuttle box and support Pavlov''s interpretation of the role of the CS-US interval in conditioning.