Rats were trained to bar-press for electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB) or H2O reinforcement in order to examine differences in resistance to extinction as related to method of presentation of reward. The methods of presentation of ESB were: (1) immediate with the appropriate bar-press, (2) immediate with the appropriate bar-press with addition of a momentarily presented dry water cup, (3) immediate with the licking of the water cup presented on appropriate bar-press. Also, a group working for one lick of water and no ESB was included. The data show clearly that H2O reinforcement is superior in producing higher resistance to extinction and that presentation of ESB reinforcement in a manner similar to the way in which a water reinforcement is presented gives higher resistance to extinction than presenting ESB reinforcement contingent only on the bar-press.
The effect of lever retraction on resistance to extinction of a response rewarded with electrical stimulation of the brain
