ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the current results and implications of a research program investigating the bilateral transfer of training effects between the appetitive jaw-movement response (JMR) and aversive nictitating membrane response (NMR) conditioning paradigms for the rabbit. Specifically, the research has concentrated on how the CS and US used in appetitive conditioning influence subsequent NM CR acquisition and how the CS and US used in aversive conditioning contribute to later JM CR acquisition. The transfer outcomes are being pursued to elucidate the mediational effects of classical conditioning. In this regard, several theorists (e.g., Dickinson & Pearce, 1977; Hull, 1943; Trapold & Overmier, 1972) have postulated that the operations for classical conditioning produce the mediators for instrumental performance. However, researchers have disagreed as to how the mediational process is accomplished. Therefore, the present outcomes are relevant for evaluating the competing theoretical explanations for the Pavlovian mediation of instrumental performance. The following treatment begins with a consideration of Pavlovian mediational positions along with a summary of the traditional research methods for theory assessment. Next, the findings for the appetitive-aversive interactions with the rabbit classical conditioning paradigms are presented. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the presumed mechanisms of Pavlovian mediation based upon the current results.
