Systematic manipulation of CS-US pairings in negative CS-US correlation procedures in rats

Male albino rats were exposed to negative correlations of tone CSs and shock USs. When the number of CSs and unpaired USs was held constant, the ability of the CS to resist subsequent excitatory conditioning declined as a function of the number or proportion of CSs paired with USs; so, too, did the ability of the CS to disrupt excitation to a second CS. In one treatment, in which the rate of USs in CS presence approached that in CS absence, the CS significantly enhanced excitation to a second CS. It is concluded that the rate of USs in CS presence need not be zero for a negative correlation to produce inhibitory effects. Also discussed is the possibility that positive and negative correlation procedures may have asymmetrical effects, at least preasymptotically.