Acquisition of free-operant (Sidman) avoidance in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) and albino rats

Abstract

Mongolian gerbils were generally superior to albino rats in the acquisition of free-operant avoidance. Members of both species learned to avoid much more successfully when the shock-shock interval was of shorter duration than the response-shock interval, as compared to acquisition when these intervals were equal. As a whole, the results extend the generality of data obtained from albino rats in avoidance situations. © 1971, Psychonomic Journals, Inc.. All rights reserved.