No abstract

No abstract

A verbal transformation (VT) is any perceptible change that subjects hear when the same word is repeated several times. Habituation was studied by investigating whether more VTs would occur during the second 3 min of word repetition. We also attempted to replicate the finding of Snyder, Calef, Choban, and Geller (1992) that a familiar word presentation style (a word spoken relatively "normally") resulted in more VTs than did an unfamiliar word presentation style (a word spoken slowly). Thirty-two psychology students listened to six neutral words repeated for 6 min with approximately 3 sec between words. Subjects reported significantly more VTs during the second as opposed to the first 3 min of word repetition only during normal presentation, supporting a habituation explanation that an increase in VTs following the continuous repetition of a word could be an example of habituation. We replicated the findings of Snyder et al, (1992) only during the second 3 min.

The present experiment investigated whether narrow goal-box confinement in studies of delay of reinforcement in the runway may have had aversive or punishing effects. Analysis showed no difference in performance between groups of rats who were either confined in a narrow goal-box or a large compartment while receiving their delay of reinforcement. The results suggest that narrow goal-box confinement does not have aversive characteristics.

During preshift, one experimental group of rats was given a large magnitude of food reward following a traversal of a straight alley and during a goalbox placement, while the other experimental group was given a small reward during goalbox placement and a large reward following a run. During postshift, all experimental groups were given a small reward of food following a traversal down the runway and during a goalbox placement. A control group was maintained on small reward during placements and following a traversal throughout the study. Only the group who received preshift large reward during placement and following a runway response ran slower to small reward during postshift than the control group maintained on small reward (negative contrast effect).