Relation of Bar-Presses to Magazine Approaches

Abstract

10 rats were trained and extinguished in a 2-bar Skinner box. Responses on only one of the bars were rewarded with water. Three measures were taken during extinction: responses on the rewarded bar; responses on the non-rewarded bar; and approaches to the water magazine. It was possible to identify presses on the rewarded bar which were not followed by water approach with responses on the non-rewarded bar. These 2 measures corresponded in over-all magnitude, temporal distribution, and within animals. It is concluded that bar-presses not followed by water approach are of a different character from bar-presses followed by water approach. Further, not all presses during extinction can be considered the result of previous reward contingencies.