External inhibition in a goldfish (Carassius auratus) classical conditioning situation

Goldfish were classically conditioned with a light as the CS and shock as the US. The UR was a decrease in respiration. After 15 or 60 conditioning trials the fish were tested with novel stimuli (clicks) during the CS-US interval. High and moderate intensity novel stimuli produced a significant decrease in CRs (external inhibition) for fish with 60 conditioning trials (5.5 or 10.5 sec CS-US interval), but not fish with 15 conditioning trials. Low intensity novel stimuli produced no evidence for disinhibition (an increase in CRs). Control groups (e.g., groups with random presentations of the CS and US) showed that the external inhibition for fish with 60 conditioning trials was inhibition of a true CR.