Classical aversive conditioning of heart rate in rats was studied using a 2 × 6 factorial design involving comparisons of trace and delayed conditioning procedures and six CS-US intervals (.0, .1, .3, .5, 1.0, and 6.0 sec.). Positive evidence of decelerative HR CRs was obtained at the .5, 1.0 and 6.0 ISIs, with maximum conditioning occurring at the 6.0 value. The results supported a modified version of the temporal gradient of reinforcement theory of classical conditioning. Problems relating to the separation of true CRs from nonassociative reactions to the CS were also discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BadiaP.DefranR. H.Orienting responses and GSR conditioning: a dilemma. Psychological Review, 1970, 77, 171–181.
2.
BrunerA.Reinforcement strength in classical conditioning of leg flexion, freezing, and heart rate in cats. Conditional Reflex, 1969, 4, 1, 24–31.
3.
ChurchR. M.BlackA. H.Latency of the conditioned heart rate as a function of the CS-US interval. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1958, 51, 478–482.
4.
DykmanR. A.On the nature of classical conditioning. In BrownC. C. (Ed.), Methods in psychophysiology. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1967. Pp 257–264.
5.
EllisonG. D.Differential salivary conditioning to traces. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1964, 57, 373–380.
6.
FitzgeraldR. D.TeylerT. J.Trace and delayed heart rate conditioning in rats as a function of US intensity. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1970, 10, 242–253.
7.
FitzgeraldR. D.VardarisR. M.BrownJ.Classical conditioning of heart-rate deceleration in the rat with continuous and partial reinforcement. Psychonomic Science, 1966, 6, 437–438.
8.
FitzgeraldR. D.VardarisR. M.TeylerT. J.An on-line method for measuring heart rate in conditioning experiments. Psychophysiology, 1968, 4, 352–353.
9.
GormezanoI.MooreJ. W.Classical conditioning. In MarxM. H. (Ed.), Learning: processes. New York: Macmillan, 1969. Pp. 137–138.
10.
HilgardE. R.MarquisD. G.Conditioning and learning. New York: Appleton-Century, 1940.
11.
MoellerG.The CS-UCS interval in GSR conditioning. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1954, 48, 162–166.
12.
ObristP. A.WoodD. M.Perez-ReyesM.Heart-rate during conditioning in humans: effects of UCS intensity, vagal blockade, and adrenergic block of vasomotor activity. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1965, 70, 32–42.
13.
ProkasyW. F.FawcettJ. T.HallJ. F.Recruitment, latency, magnitude, and amplitude of the GSR as a function of interstimulus interval. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1962, 64, 513–518.
VanDercarD. H.SchneidermanN.Interstimulus interval functions in different response systems during classical discrimination conditioning of rabbits. Psychonomic Science, 1967, 9, 9–10.
16.
WhiteC. T.SchlosbergH.Degrees of conditioning of the GSR as a function of the period of delay. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1952, 43, 357–362.
17.
WinerB. J.Statistical principles in experimental design. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1962.
18.
WittigA. F.WickensD. D.Latency and magnitude of GSR as a function of interstimulus interval. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 1966, 71, 466–467.
19.
YehleA.DauthG.SchneidermanN.Correlates of heart-rate classical conditioning in curarized rabbits. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1967, 64, 98–104.
