Extinction of free-operant avoidance behavior of rats was studied under conditions in which a response either resulted in a response-contingent event (feedback) or had no scheduled consequence. Probes and the original conditions of training were alternated. The time to reach the criterion of extinction and the number of responses in extinction were greater when a feedback stimulus was available. Cyclic patterns of responding were observed during both free-operant avoidance and extinction.
Response-independent shocks were delivered to six Ss previously trained to avoid shock. The response rate failed to recover when shocks were administered immediately following an avoidance-extinction procedure. The avoidance response rate was reinstated when shocks were presented 24 h after extinction. A second experiment involving six Ss demonstrated that when the avoidance session was immediately followed by response-independent shocks, the avoidance response rate was maintained.
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