Can an augmented flavor augment another flavor? Evidence from second-order augmentation

Publication date: February 2020Source: Learning and Motivation, Volume 69Author(s): W. Robert Batsell, Christina Dandar, Rachel Girard, Chelsea Miller, Gabrielle ShimkoAbstractIn 3 experiments with rat subjects, we explored flavor-aversion learning across multiple conditioning stages. Experiment 1 was the first demonstration of taste-taste augmentation: Saccharin (SAC) preconditioning followed by compound conditioning of SAC + saline produced a significantly stronger saline aversion. Notably, taste-taste augmentation was recorded both when the 2 tastes were mixed together or presented separately during compound conditioning. Experiments 2A and 2B involved 3 conditioning phases to determine if an augmented flavor could subsequently augment a third flavor. Specifically, after Flavor 1 preconditioning, Flavors 1 and 2 were conditioned in compound, and then, Flavors 2 and 3 were conditioned in compound. This conditioning regimen yielded a significantly stronger aversion to Flavor 3, and this stronger aversion was not attributable to direct generalization from either Flavor 1 or Flavor 2. It appears that a given flavor can have multiple within-compound associations, and these associations can summate to produce a stronger conditioned response to a third taste.

Source: Learning and Motivation - January 1, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research