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Woods, Amanda M.

Psychology

2005

MA

Three operant conditioning experiments with rats examined the rate of reacquisition after either extinction or a schedule that included occasional reinforced responses. Rapid reacquisition occurred after extinction (Experiment I) but was slower after partial reinforcement (Experiment 2), especially when responding was examined immediately following each reinforced response (Experiment 3). The results are consistent with research in classical conditioning and suggest that rapid reacquisition is analogous to a renewal effect that occurs when reinforced trials (or responses) signal a return to the conditioning context (Bouton, Woods, & Pinefio, 2004). Clinical implications are also discussed.