Discriminação com Três Diferentes Contingências em SΔ: Extinção, Reforçamento e Punição, Extinção e Punição

Previous studies reported better efficacy in discrimination training when electric shock (used as punisher or as negative reinforcer stimulus) was combined with extinction in presence of SΔ. The present study explored the generality of such data with Hot Air Blast (HAB). In Experiment 1, three groups of two rats learned discrimination between light (SΔ) versus dark (SD) under three different contingencies for SΔ: extinction, reinforcement+punishment, and extinction+punishment. The data showed more training efficacy when combining punishment and extinction. In Experiment 2, the functions of light and dark stimuli were reversed. The data showed equivalence between punishment and extinction+punishment, with both more efficient than extinction alone. Generally, the data confirm the efficacy of arranging punishment contingencies combined with extinction in presence of SΔ in context of discrimination training with HBA as aversive stimulus, increasing the generality of the phenomenon.