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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Ben Brilot, Dr Domhnall Jennings
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
In three experiments rats were given nonreinforced preexposure to an auditory stimulus, after which this stimulus and a second, novel cue were paired with food. Lower rates of conditioned responding were observed to the preexposed stimulus across the three experiments, indicative of latent inhibition. The degree to which animals used these cues to time the occurrence of food delivery was also examined. Paradoxically, the response slopes - indicating the rate of increase in responding over the course of the CS - were greater for the preexposed than for the novel cues, consistent with the suggestion that the preexposed stimulus exerted greater temporal control. Moreover, this was the case irrespective of whether the duration of the cue during preexposure differed from that during conditioning. These results suggest that although CS preexposure retards conditioning, it may enhance timing. The findings are discussed in terms of current models of conditioning and timing.
Author(s): Bonardi C, Brilot B, Jennings DJ
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Learning and Cognition
Year: 2016
Volume: 42
Issue: 2
Pages: 187-199
Print publication date: 01/04/2016
Online publication date: 15/02/2016
Acceptance date: 10/12/2015
Date deposited: 17/02/2016
ISSN (print): 2329-8456
ISSN (electronic): 2329-8464
Publisher: American Psychological Association
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/xan0000096
DOI: 10.1037/xan0000096
PubMed id: 26881898
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