OPERANT STIMULUS CONTROL APPLIED TO MAZE BEHAVIOR: HEAT ESCAPE CONDITIONING AND DISCRIMINATION REVERSAL IN ALLIGATOR MISSISSIPPIENSIS1

Abstract

Eight alligators were trained to escape heat by traversing an 8-ft runway containing right or left approaches to a water tank. All subjects were run until they had satisfied three criteria of stable response time, after which the predominant escape path was blocked, requiring discrimination reversal. Seven subjects again met the criteria; three also met them in a second reversal.