Reed, P. & Morgan, T.A. (2006).
Resurgence of response sequences during extinction in rats shows a primacy effect.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 86, 307-315.
Rats were trained to emit a series of three-response sequences
to a criterion (i.e., more than 80% of all emitted sequences correct
over five successive sessions). Each rat was trained on a series of
different, three-response sequences. After the final
three-response sequence was acquired, two extinction
tests were administered, and the three-response sequences
that re-emerged during these extinction tests were noted.
Resurgence effects during extinction were observed; that is,
the previously trained sequences were emitted. These resurgence
effects followed an orderly pattern, which involved a primacy
effect. The rats initially emitted the immediately previously
trained response, but then started to emit the response sequence
they first were trained to emit. Thus, resurgence behavior
during extinction can be an orderly function of previous
training history. These results replicate those previously
obtained with human subjects.
Key words: behavioral history, resurgence, primacy effect, recency effect,
response sequence, lever press, rat