Abstract
1. The main problems of the present experiment are to investigate (1) the functions of irrelevant or static stimulus S3 and secondary reinforcing stimulus S4, and (2) the generalization of inhibition to original stimulus S1 through the differential reinforcement by S1 and S2.2. Experiment (1). Conditioned bar-pressing response to food was established to the presentation conditioned light stimulus S1. And then the differential process by S1 (0j. n. d) and S2 (2j. n. d. or 4j. n. d.) was carried out. The condition to the responses to differential light stimulus S2 were as follows. Group A (non-reinforcement but with the sound of food-release mechanism S4), Group B (non-reinforcement and without S4), Group C (non-reinforcement but with the weak electric stimulus and S4), Group D (non-reinforcement but with the weak electric stimulus and without S4)All group were given twenty differential trials by S1 and S2, after 100 reinforcements to conditioned S1……R responses. Light stimuli S1 and S2 were presented ten times each in random alternative order. Then the resistance of conditioned generalized responses to S was measured. But Group A0 was extinguished immediately after the conditioning process, and not given the differential trails.3. Experiment (2) After the 50 reinforcements were given to conditioned response (S1……R), differential process by S1 and S2 was carried out as in the above experiment, and then S1……R was extinguished. Control Group was extinguished without interposition of differential process. In this experiment, the conditions of Group B and D in Experiment (1) were used as the S2 conditions. The influence of the differential process to S1……R was measured by the strength of resistance to extinction.4. Experiment (3) Cionditioned bar-pressing response were reinforced 50 times under the continuous presentation of light stimulus S3. Subjects were divided into two groups: Group A was extinguished by the ordinary extinction procedure, Group B was extinguished under the same conditions of Group A although the stimulus S3 was never presented it extinction process.5. Results and interpretation.a. S1…R connection was superior in the strength of resistance to extinction. And as the distance from S1 to S2 in stimulus continuum increased, the strength of resistance to extinction of S2……R decreased. (Table 2, 3)b. Without S3 and S4 in the situation of extinction, the extinction process occurred more rapidly. (Table 4)c. Under thedifferential process, S1ER gradually decreased and then was recovered to somewaht below the maximum M. The amount of decrements of S1ER was determined by the condition of S2. (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5)The above results show that S3 is neutralized through the differential process, and that S1IR generalized to S1.
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