Effect Of UCS Intensity Research Articles

Conditioned Suppression of DRL Responding: Effect of UCS Intensity, Schedule Parameter, and Schedule Context

In Experiment I, groups of rats were trained to press a lever for food reinforcement on differential reinforcement of low rate (DRL) schedules which differed in parameter value. A stimulus which terminated with either a 0.5-mA or 2.0-mA electric shock was then superimposed upon each DRL baseline. In general, the magnitude of conditioned suppression was an inverse function of DRL schedule parameter and a direct function of shock intensity. Experiment II demonstrated that the rate of responding maintained by the DRL component of a multiple DRL-extinction schedule decreased during a stimulus preceding a 0.5-mA shock, whereas the rate of responding maintained by the DRL component of a multiple DRL-variable interval schedule showed little change or increased slightly during a stimulus preceding a 0.5-mA shock.

Acquired Drive Strength as a Joint Function of Ucs Intensity and Number of Cs-Ucs Pairings: The Effect of Massed and Distributed Cs-Ucs Pairings

The empirical law relating acquired drive strength, as measured by the latency of a hurdle-jump response, to UCS intensity and number of CS-UCS pairings was investigated. The effect on acquired drive strength of varying the intervals between successive CS-UCS pairings was also investigated. Ss were 150 male albino rats, 125-160 days old. The apparatus was the classically conditioned fear apparatus. Acquired drive strength was found to be curvillinearly related to UCS intensity and number of CS-UCS pairings when a 10 minute intertrial interval was used. The relationships were monotonic and hegatively accelerated. The effect of UCS intensity on acquired drive strength varied with the length of the intertrial interval. The findings of diverging functions relating UCS intensity to test trials support Spence's notion of multiplicative relationship between habit strength (sHr) and drive (d) in the determination of performance in aversive conditioning.

Can erotic responses be classically conditioned?

In two studies attempts were made to classically condition penile tumescence. The first study employed two “intensities” of UCS slides, the second used movies. Number of conditioned responses (CRs) and their amplitude were recorded. In Study 1 there was no effect of UCS intensity on either dependent variable. There was a significant effect for amplitude CR over conditioning trials in Study 1 but not in Study 2. Results were reversed for number of CRs. The results raise doubts whether penile tumescence can be classically conditioned. Since CR amplitude was unaffected by UCS intensity, the utility of such classical conditioning procedures in behavior therapy for sexual problems would appear limited.

Effects of UCS intensity during continuing coterminous delay conditioning on conditioned acceleration during maintained avoidance

In a systematic replication of an earlier investigation demonstrating a monotonic relationship between UCS intensity and conditioned acceleration, four rats were run in a multiple schedule with aversive classical conditioning (light-shock pairings) and Sidman shuttlebox avoidance. Each S was given one of four UCS intensities in the first component and run in the second until mean rates of acceleration had stabilized over five sessions. This procedure was repeated for the remaining intensities. Conditioned acceleration again proved to be monotonically related to intensity. Two procedural innovations were able to sustain acceleration permanently and eliminate inhibition of delay.

The effect of UCS intensity in classical and avoidance GSR conditioning.

This study compared GSR avoidance and yoked-control conditioning procedures. Classical conditioning at two UCS intensities was followed by extinction and, two months later, by an avoidance session. Matching of Ss was based on GSR responsiveness and classical conditioning in the first session.

Effects of UCS intensity upon conditioning and extinction of the GSR.

Effects of UCS intensity upon conditioning and extinction of the GSR.

Effect of UCS intensity on the acquisition and extinction of a one-way avoidance response

Forty one female albino rats received 50 trials of acquisition training in a one-way avoidance task with UCS (shock) intensities of 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, or 3.5 ma, and were subsequently extinguished. The 0.5 ma group made significantly fewer avoidance responses and had longer response latencies in acquisition and on the first extinction trial. The highest shock level produced significantly longer escape latencies on early trials but did not retard avoidance learning. These results are compared with those found using other avoidance tasks.

HEART RATE DURING CONDITIONING IN HUMANS: EFFECTS OF UCS INTENSITY, VAGAL BLOCKADE, AND ADRENERGIC BLOCK OF VASOMOTOR ACTIVITY.

HEART RATE DURING CONDITIONING IN HUMANS: EFFECTS OF UCS INTENSITY, VAGAL BLOCKADE, AND ADRENERGIC BLOCK OF VASOMOTOR ACTIVITY.

EFFECT OF UCS INTENSITY UPON THE ACQUISITION OF CONDITIONED RESPONSES ACQUIRED UNDER A LENGTHENED INTERSTIMULUS INTERVAL.

EFFECT OF UCS INTENSITY UPON THE ACQUISITION OF CONDITIONED RESPONSES ACQUIRED UNDER A LENGTHENED INTERSTIMULUS INTERVAL.

The influence of UCS upon the acquisition of the conditioned eyelid response

The comparative effect of two UCS intensities upon eyelid conditioning was investigated in a 2 x 2 factorial design in which UCS intensity for trials 1–50 was orthogonal to UCS intensity for trials 51–110. The influence of UCS intensity was significant in both the pre- and the post-shift phases when all data were considered. When the responses of “non-conditioners” (Ss who averaged less than 10% CRs) were removed from consideration, the effect of UCS intensity was not significant in either phase of the experiment. It was suggested that UCS intensity is a determinant of whether or not an S conditions rather than a determinant of his asymptotic performance level.

EFFECT OF UCS INTENSITY ON THE ACQUISITION AND EXTINCTION OF AN AVOIDANCE RESPONSE.

Forty one female albino rats received 50 trials of acquisition training in a one-way avoidance task with UCS (shock) intensities of 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, or 3.5 ma, and were subsequently extinguished. The 0.5 ma group made significantly fewer avoidance responses and had longer response latencies in acquisition and on the first extinction trial. The highest shock level produced significantly longer escape latencies on early trials but did not retard avoidance learning. These results are compared with those found using other avoidance tasks.