Repeated acquisition of three‐response chains for food reinforcement in the rat

Abstract

Abstract Adult male hooded rats responding on three contact sensors for food reinforcement were trained to acquire a different three‐response sequence each day. Twelve three‐response sequences were used; with minor exceptions, the series of 12 was run four times in two rats and twice in one rat. Elapsed time and error rate for a given sequence declined over sessions and within sessions. Some sequences generated higher error rates than others. Results were generally consistent with previous results from pigeons emitting four‐response sequences. Application to the testing of drugs for therapeutic effects on cognitive deficits associated with aging is discussed.