Full Preservation of a Response–Outcome Association through Training with a Second Outcome

Abstract

In two experiments rats were trained to make instrumental responses, with each response earning first one and then a second outcome. Subsequent devaluation of either the first or the second earned outcome had a depressive effect on responding. The magnitude of the effect was similar, whichever outcome was devalued. This result suggests that initially trained response-outcome associations are fully preserved despite the same response being trained with a second outcome.