Abstract

A note on nose-poking behavior in rats. Acta comport. [online]. 2014, vol.22, n.1, pp. 15-22. ISSN 0188-8145.

Groups of rats were exposed to non-contingent water delivery under 15 s or 30 s cycles. For both groups water deliveries were signaled by a tone during the 50% of each cycle. Relative nose-pocking time during the signal was higher for rats exposed to the 15 s cycle than for rats exposed to the 30 s cycle. Elevation ratios calculated for each group, however, did not differ between them. Although contacted water deliveries did not differ between groups, relative nose-pocking time in the presence of water was higher for rats exposed to the 30 s cycle than for rats exposed to the 15 s cycle. Results confirm the predictive value of the I/T ratio in classical conditioning and the useful of the elevation ratio for the analysis of performance under different Pavlovian procedures. Additionally, results support the idea that the analysis of conditioning should include changes in responding to the unconditional stimulus.

Keywords : Autoshaping; I/T ratio; nose poking behavior; cycle length; rats.

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