Classical and instrumental conditioning with septal stimulation as reinforcement.

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Abstract
With lateral septal stimulation as unconditioned stimulus in a classical conditioning experiment the unconditioned heart rate slowing reaction was conditioned to a tone in 20 rats. Considered in relation to the question of heart rate conditioning as primary, i. e., not an artifact of respiratory or skeletal-motor reactions to brain stimulation, the data demonstrate the possibility of conditioning a centrally elicited autonomic reaction. In Experiment 2 the same Ss learned to bar press for the same electrical brain stimulation. Results are discussed in relation to interactions between mechanisms of contiguity, and those of Thorndikian origin, such as the "go" or "activating" mechanisms proposed by Miller.