The effects of amphetamine on a multitrial partial reinforcement extinction effect (PREE) in a runway

Abstract

Three experiments examined the effects of d-amphetamine (1 mg/kg) administration on the partial reinforcement extinction effect (PREE) using a multitrial procedure. Two groups of rats were trained to run in a straight alley. The continuously reinforced (CRF) group received food reward on every trial. The partially reinforced (PRF) group was rewarded on a quasi-random 50% schedule. All animals were then tested in extinction. Experiments 1 and 2 used 6 trials/day with an intertrial interval (ITI) of 5 min. In Experiment 1 the drug was administered only during acquisition, whereas in Experiment 2 it was administered throughout acquisition and extinction. Experiment 3 used 3 trials/day with a 20 min ITI. The drug was administered throughout acquisition and extinction. In all three experiments, amphetamine-treated animals showed a normal PREE, i.e., increased resistance to extinction in PRF as compared to CRF animals. These results stand in marked contrast to the amphetamine-induced abolition of the PREE with 1 trial/day procedure.