TRANSFER ACROSS DRIVES OF THE DISCRIMINATIVE EFFECT OF A PAVLOVIAN CONDITIONED STIMULUS 1

Abstract

Previous results suggest that a stimulus paired in Pavlovian fashion with reward should exert some discriminative control over an unrelated operant response acquired under a different drive‐reward system. In the following experiment, a stimulus was first paired with food reinforcement for a hungry rat. Subsequently, the animal learned to lever‐press for water reinforcements when thirsty but not hungry. Finally, the control over lever‐pressing of the food‐paired stimulus was tested by presenting it at various times during extinction of the lever‐pressing response. All animals in the experiment showed the expected effect; each emitted more lever‐presses during periods of the food‐paired stimulus than during alternate control periods.