Response-contingent stimuli and DRL performance after septal lesions in rats

An experiment was conducted to assess the effectiveness of providing response-contingent stimuli in improving the performance of rats with septal lesions on a DRL schedule of reinforcement. Groups of operated and control animals were given no stimulus, a light flash, or footshock in conjunction with all noncriterion lever presses. Footshock, but not light, was found to substantially ameliorate the lesion-induced DRL deficit. Improved schedule efficiency appeared to result from the punishing aspects of the shock and not to a response-feedback function.