Unexpected Post-CS Events During Extinction and the Slow Reacquisition Effect
Abstract
Rats were used to examine the effects of a surprising post-CS event on reacquisition of an extinguished conditioned taste aversion. One flavor CS was paired with LiCl and then followed by many CS-alone extinction trials. Following these extinction trials, subjects received the CS paired again with LiCl to assess the extent of reacquisition. For some subjects, the final extinction exposure was immediately followed by a surprising second flavor CS. The surprising event did not influence the degree of reacquisition. Additional results found that the second flavor did influence habituation of neophobia to a flavor showing that the event does influence consumption in some circumstances. These results are discussed with respect to the role of attention on extinction and reacquisition of a conditioned taste aversion.