CLASSICAL VERSUS INSTRUMENTAL EXPOSURE TO SUCROSE REWARDS AND LATER INSTRUMENTAL BEHAVIOR FOLLOWING A SHIFT IN INCENTIVE VALUE

In Phase 1 hungry male albino Holtzman rats (N = 24) received either 42 running or goal box placement trials to 1 of 2 levels of sucrose reinforcement, followed in Phase 2 by 48 running trials to the same low reinforcement. In Phase 2 Ss behaved as if they were still receiving the Phase 1 reinforcement level and in the terminal stage of Phase 2 Ss initially run and Ss initially placed were not different. Data indicate that the habit strength of instrumental behavior is not dependent on sucrose concentration. It is convenient to talk about this effect as related to differences in secondary reinforcement which implies that differences in secondary reinforcement produced by different sucrose concentrations must be relatively permanent. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.