Effects of conditioned stimulus (CS) duration, intertrial interval, and I/T ratio on appetitive Pavlovian conditioning.

Pavlovian learning is influenced by at least 2 temporal variables: The time between the onset of the conditioned stimulus (CS) and presentation of the unconditioned stimulus (US), and the time between successive conditioning trials (the intertrial interval [ITI]). Wagner's Sometimes Opponent Process (SOP) model (e.g., 1981) provides a rich account of the effects of varying the absolute durations of CS and ITI. However, other theories have contrastingly emphasized the role of the relative durations of CS (T) and ITI (I). Three experiments with rats used an appetitive conditioning preparation to separate the two approaches. They manipulated absolute values of I and T over a factor of 6 and compared the effect of varying T and I/T by the same factor. Conditioning was indexed by the rate of foodcup entry during training, during common tests conducted later with different combinations of I and T, and with a reinforcers-to-criterion measure. Experiment 1 found that learning with a 10-s CS was superior to that with a 60-s CS when the I/T ratio was the same. There was little evidence of learning with the 60-s CS. Experiment 2 replicated that result and extended it to show that a 60-s CS still supported little conditioned responding when I/T was increased from 12 to 72. Experiment 3 then examined intermediate CS durations between 10-s and 60-s while I/T was controlled. The results support a role for absolute CS duration rather than the I/T ratio. Explanations based on SOP and behavior systems theory are explored. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).