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Overt activity during conditioned suppression: a search for punishment artifacts.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|November 1, 1971
Summary
This study shows that a tone paired with shock suppresses pigeon key pecking. This conditioned suppression occurs without direct punishment, suggesting an emotional response inhibits behavior.
Area of Science:
- Animal Behavior
- Behavioral Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Pigeons were trained to peck a key for food reinforcement.
- Key pecking was extinguished by removing reinforcement.
- A tone was presented followed by an electrical shock to condition the tone as a suppressive stimulus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate conditioned suppression in pigeons.
- To determine if punishment is necessary for conditioned suppression.
- To explore the underlying mechanisms of conditioned suppression.
Main Methods:
- Pigeons underwent extinction of key pecking.
- A tone-shock pairing procedure was used to establish a conditioned emotional response.
- The effect of tone presentation on re-established key pecking was measured.
- Detailed observational protocols of overt movements were recorded.
Main Results:
- Tone presentation significantly reduced key pecking rates.
- Conditioned suppression was observed without direct punishment of key pecks or other movements.
- Fine-grain analysis of overt movements provided insights into behavioral inhibition.
Conclusions:
- Conditioned suppression in pigeons can occur without direct punishment.
- Findings support the conditioned emotional reaction theory of behavioral suppression.
- The results suggest emotional states can indirectly inhibit overt activity.