The partial-reinforcement extinction effect does not result from reduced sensitivity to nonreinforcement. 2019

Justin A Harris, and Manuel S Seet, and Dorothy W S Kwok
School of Psychology, University of Sydney.

Five experiments used a magazine approach paradigm with rats to investigate whether learning about nonreinforcement is impaired in the presence of a conditioned stimulus (CS) that had been partially reinforced (PRf). Experiment 1 trained rats with a PRf CS and a continuously reinforced (CRf) CS, then extinguished responding to both CSs presented together as a compound. Probe trials of each CS presented alone revealed that extinction was slower for the PRf CS than the CRf CS, despite being extinguished in compound. In Experiment 2, a CRf light was extinguished in compound with either a CRf CS or a PRf CS that had been matched for overall reinforcement rate. Responding to the light extinguished at the same rate regardless of the reinforcement schedule of the other CS. Experiment 3 replicated this result with a PRf light. Thus, we found no evidence that a PRf CS impairs extinction of another CS presented at the same time. Experiments 4 and 5 extended this approach to study the acquisition of conditioned inhibition by training an inhibitor in compound with either a PRf or CRf excitatory CS. The reinforcement schedule of the excitatory CS had no effect on the acquisition of inhibition. In sum, conditioning with a PRf schedule slows subsequent extinction of that CS but does not affect learning about the nonreinforcement of other stimuli presented at the same time. We conclude that the Partial Reinforcement Extinction Effect is not attributable to a decrease in sensitivity to nonreinforcement following presentation of a PRf CS. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007266 Inhibition, Psychological The interference with or prevention of a behavioral or verbal response even though the stimulus for that response is present; in psychoanalysis the unconscious restraining of an instinctual process. Inhibition (Psychology),Inhibition, Psychology,Psychological Inhibition,Inhibitions (Psychology),Inhibitions, Psychological,Inhibitions, Psychology,Psychological Inhibitions,Psychology Inhibition,Psychology Inhibitions
D012054 Reinforcement, Psychology The strengthening of a conditioned response. Negative Reinforcement,Positive Reinforcement,Psychological Reinforcement,Reinforcement (Psychology),Negative Reinforcements,Positive Reinforcements,Psychological Reinforcements,Psychology Reinforcement,Psychology Reinforcements,Reinforcement, Negative,Reinforcement, Positive,Reinforcement, Psychological,Reinforcements (Psychology),Reinforcements, Negative,Reinforcements, Positive,Reinforcements, Psychological,Reinforcements, Psychology
D012055 Reinforcement Schedule A schedule prescribing when the subject is to be reinforced or rewarded in terms of temporal interval in psychological experiments. The schedule may be continuous or intermittent. Reinforcement Schedules,Schedule, Reinforcement,Schedules, Reinforcement
D003214 Conditioning, Classical Learning that takes place when a conditioned stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus. Reflex, Conditioned,Classical Conditioning,Classical Conditionings,Conditioned Reflex,Conditionings, Classical
D003216 Conditioning, Operant Learning situations in which the sequence responses of the subject are instrumental in producing reinforcement. When the correct response occurs, which involves the selection from among a repertoire of responses, the subject is immediately reinforced. Instrumental Learning,Learning, Instrumental,Operant Conditioning,Conditionings, Operant,Instrumental Learnings,Learnings, Instrumental,Operant Conditionings
D005108 Extinction, Psychological The procedure of presenting the conditioned stimulus without REINFORCEMENT to an organism previously conditioned. It refers also to the diminution of a conditioned response resulting from this procedure. Psychological Extinction,Extinction (Psychology),Extinctions (Psychology),Extinctions, Psychological,Psychological Extinctions
D005260 Female Females
D000704 Analysis of Variance A statistical technique that isolates and assesses the contributions of categorical independent variables to variation in the mean of a continuous dependent variable. ANOVA,Analysis, Variance,Variance Analysis,Analyses, Variance,Variance Analyses
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D017207 Rats, Sprague-Dawley A strain of albino rat used widely for experimental purposes because of its calmness and ease of handling. It was developed by the Sprague-Dawley Animal Company. Holtzman Rat,Rats, Holtzman,Sprague-Dawley Rat,Rats, Sprague Dawley,Holtzman Rats,Rat, Holtzman,Rat, Sprague-Dawley,Sprague Dawley Rat,Sprague Dawley Rats,Sprague-Dawley Rats

Related Publications

Justin A Harris, and Manuel S Seet, and Dorothy W S Kwok
February 1968, Journal of experimental psychology,
Justin A Harris, and Manuel S Seet, and Dorothy W S Kwok
June 1987, Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior,
Justin A Harris, and Manuel S Seet, and Dorothy W S Kwok
January 1963, Journal of experimental psychology,
Justin A Harris, and Manuel S Seet, and Dorothy W S Kwok
October 2022, Journal of experimental psychology. Animal learning and cognition,
Justin A Harris, and Manuel S Seet, and Dorothy W S Kwok
June 1968, Journal of comparative and physiological psychology,
Justin A Harris, and Manuel S Seet, and Dorothy W S Kwok
October 1966, Psychological reports,
Justin A Harris, and Manuel S Seet, and Dorothy W S Kwok
November 1977, Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior,
Justin A Harris, and Manuel S Seet, and Dorothy W S Kwok
March 1957, Journal of experimental psychology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!