Abstract

Decrements in taste-aversion learning produced by extensions of the interval between the CS flavor and poisoning (the US) may be attributed to decay of the CS trace during long CS-US intervals. Kalat and Rozin (1973) alternatively proposed that such decrements occur because during extended CS-US intervals subjects learn that the CS is safe. They sought to show that trace decay is not responsible for the CS-US delay gradient by demonstrating that learning is disrupted even if the CS is reintroduced during extended CS-US intervals. The present experiments show that such a second CS presentation during conditioning may (1) enhance subsequent intakes of the CS solution whether or not subjects are poisoned, and/or (2) facilitate aversion learning, the facilitation being greater the closer the second CS exposure is to poisoning. These results question the adequacy of previous evidence for the contribution of learned safety to the CS-US delay gradient and suggest that some other process is also involved.

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