Sidman avoidance in rats as a function of shock intensity and duration

Abstract

4 mature male albino rats with extensive avoidance experience were run in a Skinner box through a randomized series of 5 shock intensities beginning at .25 ma. and increasing geometrically by multiples of 2. The functional relationship for response rates resulting was positive and monotonic throughout, but the sensitivity of the response and shock rates was largely exhausted in the .25-1 ma. range, with further intensity increases up to 4 ma. producing only negligible increases in response rate. Duration was manipulated for 5 values of .05, .1, .15, .2, and .3 sec. with intensity at .5 ma. A nearly identical monotonic function emerged except that the slope was less precipitous and greater sensitivity was evident at the larger duration values. (17 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1970 American Psychological Association.