Loss of Associability by a Conditioned Inhibitor

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In each of three experiments two groups of rats received inhibitory conditioning to one stimulus. Prior to a test phase of excitatory conditioning to this stimulus, one group was repeatedly exposed to the inhibitory stimulus by itself while the other group received no such exposure. Excitatory conditioning occurred most slowly in the group which received the exposure training. The first experiment indicated that this difference was not due to the exposure treatment enhancing the inhibitory properties of the stimulus. The results of Experiment III confirmed this conclusion and also indicated that the differences between the two groups during testing were due to differences in the associability of the inhibitory stimulus.