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NONDISCRIMINATED AVOIDANCE OF SHOCK BY PIGEONS PECKING A KEY1
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This paper is based partly upon a Master's Thesis submitted to the Departamento de Psicologia Experimental da Universidade de São Paulo by Elenice A. Ferrari.
Abstract
Four pigeons were trained to avoid shock by pecking a key on a free-operant avoidance schedule in which no exteroceptive stimulus signalled impending shock. Response rate was an inverse function of response-shock interval when shock-shock interval was held constant at 2 sec and response-shock intervals varied from 5 to 40 sec. Amphetamine increased response rates in two subjects and reserpine markedly reduced responding in one.
