Effects of shock and noise on running after training with partial or continuous reward

Abstract

Rats wert! given partial or continuous reward in a runway, then continuous reward while either shock or loud noise was presented early in the runway on half of the trials. They were then given extinction. Shock produced conditioned suppression in the segment preceding its administration, a decrement in running immediately following it, and an increase in running speed in the last segment. Noise did not produce conditioned suppression but did produce an increase in speed following its administration. Partial reinforcement did not alter any of the effects of either stimulus but reliably increased resistance to extinction.