The role of the exploratory drive in learning.

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Abstract
To test the hypotheses that (a) novel stimulation can function as a reinforcing agent and (b) the mechanism underlying this kind of reinforcement is an increase rather than a decrease in the strength of the exploratory drive, 12 rats were given 48 free choice trials in a Y-maze in which 1 arm led to a blind alley and the other to a large Dashiell-type maze. On the 1st 24 trials the D-maze was attached to 1 arm of the Y; on the 2d 24 trials it was moved to the other arm of the Y. The results show (a) that during the 1st 24 trials the animals learned to enter the arm of the Y leading to the D-maze and that they reversed their choices during the 2d 24 trials, and (b) that over the 48 trials the animals exhibited a progressive decrease in latency of Y-maze-arm entries. It is concluded that learning occurred, that it is based upon the exploratory drive, and that the results support both of the above hypotheses.
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