Abstract
The degree of compatibility between defensive responding and leverpress topography was investigated. Rats were trained to leverpress on a Sidman avoidance schedule for one 60-min session. Measures of defensive responding (jumping and rearing) were recorded during initial training. Shock intensity (.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mA) and S-S interval (1, 3, and 5 sec) were varied in Experiment 1. S-S interval had no effect on defensive responding or on performance. Rate of jumping was an increasing function of intensity only at lower intensities. Both jumping and rearing were significantly correlated with leverpressing. Shock intensity (1.0 and 2.0 mA) and lever position (3.02 and 16.83 cm) were varied in Experiment 2. Response rate was an increasing function of intensity at the high lever position but not at the low position. Correlations between rearing and leverpressing, and between jumping and leverpressing, were not significant for either lever position. Bolles’ (1970) theory of species-specific defense reactions was invoked to account for initial facilitated performance.
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