An experimental investigation of reactive inhibition and conditioned inhibition.

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Abstract
As an attempt to test Hull''s postulates 8 and 9, which set forth the concepts of "reactive inhibition" and "conditioned inhibition," eight derived predictions are examined. With 45 male rats given a maze and lever-pressing test, two specified independent variables (amount of work and inter-trial interval) were manipulated simultaneously and independently. In a simple factorial design. 5 rats were assigned randomly to each of 9 groups involving a different value of work and inter-trial interval. The results are interpreted as showing that response latency increases as a function of work throughout the course of acquisition but this variable shows no relationship to inter-trial interval during the first 10 trials and is a decreasing function during the main course of acquisition including the last 10 trials. During acquisition, the effects of the two variables upon response latency are found independent and additive. The rest period after each block of 10 trials produced not reminiscence but a similar decrement in response strength in all groups. In the first 20 extinction trials response latency is an increasing function of work but is not related to inter-trial interval, and the differential effects of work are greater than those of inter-trial interval. It is concluded that 3 of the 8 predictions are fully confirmed, and from the standpoint of Hull''s theory explanations are offered for the negative results.
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