[Importance of traces of a preceding unreinforced stimulus to the formation of inhibitory conditioned reflexes in the rat].

The results of experiments with the inhibitory signal presented to rats after the positive one, showed the significance of the negative signal memory trace which interrupted alimentary behaviour and considerably accelerated its full extinction in response to the previously positive signal. Its significance is shown in experiments with amnesia produced by electroshock. According to the suggested concept negative conditioned reflexes are a result of formation of a temporary connection between memory traces of the negative conditioned signal and the non-reinforcement of this signal.