Effects of Varied Magnitude of Reward,Delay of Reward,and Nonreward Confinement on Resistance to Extinction *

Abstract

8 groups of rats (N = 10) were trained to traverse a straight alley runway to obtain food on a partial delay of reward schedule. 32 acquisition trials were followed by an equivalent number of extinction trials. The variables manipulated were (a) the delay of reward duration (5 vs 35 sec.), (b) the magnitude of reward on immediate-reward trials (2 vs 12 pellets) and (c) the goal-confinement duration in extinction (5 vs 35 sec.). According to Capaldi's sequential theory, resistance to extinction was predicted to increase with increased magnitude of reward, with increased delay of reward and with increased similarity between delay durations in acquisition and confinement durations in extinction. The obtained results supported the former two predictions but were inconclusive for the third.

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