Double-Alternation Runway Performance as a Function of Inter- and Intra-Reinforcement Odor Cues

Abstract

Two groups of 12 rats served as Ss in a three-phase investigation into the production and utilization of odor cues in the runway. Both groups were trained under double-alternation patterns of reward-nonreward with one group serving as start-box donor-odorants, while the second group actually traversed the runway. During the first two phases the run-Ss were water-reinforced, and the donor-odorants were food-reinforced. The reinforcement schedules for the run and donor-odorant Ss were positively correlated during the first phase and negatively correlated during the second phase. In the third phase both groups were food reinforced and the reinforcement schedules once again positively correlated. The results indicated that significant double-alternation patterning was shown by the run-Ss only in the goal measure during Phases I and II. However, significant patterning was shown in start, run, and goal measures during Phase III, suggesting the specificity of odor cues to deprivational states.