Instrumental escape as a function of UCS intensity, UCS reduction, and type of instructions

Abstract

A key-tapping escape response was conditioned using 115, 95, or 65 db sound intensity for 90 trials. When given explicit instructions Ss were told that faster key tapping led to faster sound reduction. When given implicit instructions Ss were told only that key tapping was necessary when the sound was on. Response speed was faster with explicit rather than implicit instructions, and significantly faster at 115 db intensity as compared to 95 or 65 db intensities. The 95 db and 65 db groups did not differ significantly in performance. Further, a reduction in the magnitude of reward from complete reduction to only 20 db reduction for half of the Ss, after trial 45, produced no reliable change in performance.