THE EFFECTS OF CS-UCS INTERVAL ON TRACE avoidance CONDITIONING IN THE RaT

Abstract

The experiment in this thesis was designed to test the effects of different CS-UCS intervals on trace avoidance conditioning in the rat. Intervals of 5, 10, 30 and 60 seconds produced no differential effect on the acquisition of avoidance. Examination of the data yielded evidence that two opposing functions could account for the results. These were believed to interact in such a manner that avoidances in the short intervals were controlled by the conditioned fear of the CS, whereas in the longer intervals, they were a joint function of high response rates and the increased opportunity for avoidances to occur. Furthermore, it appeared that these high response rates were conditioned.