Discriminative shock-avoidance learning of an autonomic response under curare.

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Abstract
Assigned 16 curarized, artificially respirated male Sprague-Dawley albino rats to 2 groups of 8 Ss each, rewarded for intestinal contraction (C) or relaxation (R), respectively. Each S received a predetermined series of CS+, CS-, and blank (B) trials, the latter involving no stimulation. On CS+ trials, Ss in Group C received a noxious electric shock to the tail for episodes of intestinal relaxation, while those in Group R received the shock for episodes of intestinal contraction. Results indicate that both groups spent significantly greater amounts of time, both toward the end of acquisition and during extinction, in the intestinal state for which they were rewarded, manifesting stimulus-specific escape and avoidance learning. In Exp. II with 4 curarized Ss, no consistent unconditioned effects on intestinal motility were observed as a result of shock application or shock offset. (16 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)

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