Reinstatement in Mice
Three studies of the reinstatement effect using inbred mice (A/J, C57BL/6J, DBA/2J) were reported. In each study there were 4 treatment groups: early shock-reinstatement shock, early shock, reinstatement shock, and no shock. In Exp. I, 1, in Exp. II, 2, and in Exp. III, 3 inbred mouse strains were studied. In Exp. III, an albino strain was also included. Significant main effects due to strain, early experience, and reinstatement were obtained. Orthogonal comparisons generally showed that the experimental groups which received some electric shocks in early experience, reinstatement experience, or both, significantly preferred the white non-shocked side of the box. There was some evidence supporting the reinstatement principle. In future studies of this kind, special attention should be given to organismic and apparatus variables.