The effects of signal intensity upon conditioned suppression: Effects upon responding during signals and intersignal intervals

Two rat experiments were run to study the effects of a wide range of signal (CS) intensities on the suppression of licking. In Experiment 1, a light CS was varied over five levels, including zero intensity. Conditioned suppression was found to vary directly with CS intensity, but basal lick rates were not different among groups. In Experiment 2, an attempt was made to disturb the basal rate of licking, while a tone CS was varied over four levels, including zero intensity. Here the suppression of the CS rates was found to be directly related and basal rates inversely related to CS intensity. The results as a whole were consistent with the Perkins-Logan hypothesis regarding the effects of CS intensity upon conditioning, but not with the Rescorla-Wagner model of classical conditioning.