Behavioral contrast and the automaintained key peck

In two experiments behavioral contrast was demonstrated during discrimination training in a positive automaintenance procedure. During the baseline condition in each experiment, a key was transilluminated for eight seconds by one of two colors (CS) following a variable intertrial interval signaled by a dark key. Keylight transillumination terminated with a response-independent food presentation. In the first experiment, food was eliminated during one CS for up to fifty sessions. After reinstatement of food following each CS, the discrimination was reversed. Six of the eight subjects showed positive behavioral contrast, i.e., response rates increased during the CS associated with food as they decreased during the CS associated with no food. The effect was replicated in Experiment II, but it did not occur when both the food and its associated CS were eliminated. These results were comparable to those obtained with operant discrimination training procedures (behavioral contrast) and with Pavlovian discrimination training. The results suggest that additivity theories of behavioral contrast may be insufficient to account for these data.