Response Patterning in Classical Conditioning

Sign and goal tracking during delay and trace autoshaping in pigeons

“…Alternatively, the proximity data may reflect control by the CS of a competing response tendency, such as goal tracking. Goal tracking has been reported in autoshaping procedures with rats (e.g., Boakes, 1977;Davey & Cleland, 1982;Farwell & Ayres, 1979;Henton, 1978;Holland, 1977), and with pigeons (Newlin & LoLordo, 1976;Silva et al, 1992;van Hest et al, 1986;Wasserman, 1973).…”

Associative theory versus classical conditioning: Their proper relationship

“…He stated that although post-Pavlovian investigators in Russia brought skeletal responses to the forefront, with the exception of Bykov, quantitative analysis of overt behaviors was unavailable in the Russian classical conditioning literature. Henton (1978) also had difficulty finding quantitative analyses of classically conditioned skeletal CRs, with some exceptions, in this country. He attributes this lack of skeletal CC research in America to the fact that central state interpretations have relegated overt behaviors to minor and trivial roles and that skeletal responses were only used as indirect measures of covert, unrecordable states: "In general, skeletal responses are viewed as a nuisance, to be literally eliminated with curare or figuratively eliminated by deductive logic and control procedures" (p. 303).…”