Reward sequence and reinforcement level as determinants of S− behavior in differential conditioning

Abstract

In two differential conditioning experiments, groups of 10 rats each differed with respect to average reward and schedule of reward received in S+. Nonreward (N) occurred on all S− trials. In both experiments, extinction of responding to S− (resistance to discrimination) was extensively regulated by reward sequence and was largely independent of average reward. In Experiment 1, resistance to discrimination was a function of transitions from N to rewarded (R) trials (N-R transitions). In Experiment 2, resistance to discrimination was increased by large reward on the R trial of N-R transitions and decreased by large reward on the R trial of R-N transitions. These schedule effects on resistance to discrimination parallel the effects of comparable schedules on resistance to extinction following partial reinforcement. The results are discussed in terms of sequential theory, reinforcement level theory, and their implications for various schedule manipulations that have previously shown S− behavior to be inversely related to average reward in S+.