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Conditional discrimination
learning in rats: A model for testing symmetry? We investigated a prototypical procedure that might produce relational learning in rodents. Food-deprived rats were trained to lever press for food reinforcement and then on a number of conditional discriminations. In Conditional Discrimination I (CD I), there were A1-B1 trials: following an intertrial interval a loud auditory tone was presented for 8 seconds (A1), immediately followed by presentation of a flashing light for 8 seconds (B1). A lever press during the flashing light resulted in the delivery of food at the end of the 8-s interval. In CD II , A1-B1 trials were interspersed with A1-B2 trials, where A1 was followed by the presentation of a constant light for 8 seconds (B2). A lever press during the constant light had no effect except that this trial type was repeated until responding was withheld. In CD III, A2-B2 trials were added: in these an auditory clicker (A2) was presented for 8 seconds followed by a constant light (B2) for 8 seconds. A lever press during the flashing light resulted in the delivery of food at the end of the 8-s interval. In CD IV, there were also A2-B1 trials in which responding in B2 had no consequences except that the trial was repeated. Rats on that performed at criterion level on these tasks were tested for symmetry of the A-B relations. Keywords: conditional discrimination, relational learning, symmetry, rats |
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