INHIBITION AND DISINHIBITION IN CLASSICAL ACTIVITY CONDITIONING WITH GOLDFISH (CARASSIUS AURATUS)

Goldfish were classically conditioned with food or shock as the US for three days using 20 trials per day. The CS was a ten sec light and the CR was activity during the CS-US interval. Fish conditioned with shock as the US learned to decrease activity during CS presentations, while fish trained with food as the US learned to increase activity during CS presentations (inhibition of delay). Tests with novel (disorienting) stimuli (combinations of flashing light and clicks) during CS-US intervals produced disinhibition to the lower intensity novel stimuli and external inhibition to the highest intensity novelstimulus. Fish with shock as the US showed increased responding for all novel stimulus intensities.