The effects of termination of the CS and avoidance of the US on avoidance learning.

Abstract

The effects of response termination of the conditioned stimulus (CS) and of avoidance of the unconditioned stimulus (US) on avoidance learning were studied with a 2 x 2 factorial design employing 32 hooded rats as subjects in a shuttlebox. The avoidance of the US and response termination of the CS both resulted in more responding and in shorter response latency. There was no interaction between the two factors. The effect of avoidance of the US were interpreted tentatively in terms of stimulus-response learning theory.