Associative processes controlling the persistence of operant responding: S-S* and R-S* (original) (raw)

Abstract

Rats were trained initially to barpress for food when either a tone or a light was presented. One group then had the tone-food (St-S*) association extinguished by presentation of the tone in the absence of the bar followed by no food. Under this condition, the response-food (R-S*) association was assumed to remain intact. Another group had the R-S* but not the tone-food (St-S*) association extinguished by presentation of the light when a barpress did not produce a food pellet. Two control groups, one concerned with generalized extinction and the other receiving no treatment, were included. The persistence of responding to the tone was then measured in extinction. Extinguishing either type of association (St-S* or R-S*) reduced resistance to extinction relative to controls, implicating both types of association as being important in determining the persistence of operant behavior, with the suggestion that the R-S* may be more important than the StS*. These results are inconsistent with the current trend of emphasizing the importance of St-S* associations to the exclusion of other associative mechanisms.

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Author notes

1. Mark W. Olson
   Present address: University of Iowa, USA

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Psychology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, 73019
   Roger L. Mellgren & Mark W. Olson

Authors

1. Roger L. Mellgren
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2. Mark W. Olson
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Mellgren, R.L., Olson, M.W. Associative processes controlling the persistence of operant responding: S-S* and R-S*.Bull. Psychon. Soc. 16, 279–282 (1980). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329543

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• Received: 17 August 1980
• Published: 24 October 2013
• Issue Date: October 1980
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03329543

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