Response Extinction under Differential Deprivation Schedules and Variable Reinforcement Trials and after Behavior Reinstatement 1

Abstract

2 groups (5 Ss each) of hooded rats, the first food-deprived on a 5-hr. schedule, the second at 24 hr., were trained to lever-press after variable trials of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 reinforcements. Reinforcement was then with- held from each S in a single trial series under both deprivation schedules and the number of responses to reach the extinction criterion recorded. After 24- and 48-hr. intervals reinstatement of unreinforced lever-pressing (spontaneous re- covery) was extinguished and the responses to reach extinction again recorded. The results indicated that the greatest resistance to initial extinction occurred at 50 reinforced trials and 24-hr. deprivation, while the extinction of reinstated be- havior was most resistant at 50 reinforced trials and 5-hr. deprivation.

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