Stimulus generalization in rabbits conditioned to different intensities of caudate nucleus stimulation

Classically conditioned nictitating membrane responses in 24 naive New Zealand white rabbits by pairing .07-, .18-, or .28-ma intensity electrical brain stimulation as the CS with peripheral shock as the UCS. A control group received random presentations of CSs and UCSs. Each group subsequently received CS alone or differential conditioning trials in which nonreinforced stimuli were presented at other CS intensities and locations. It was found that: (a) percentages of nictitating membrane responses were directly related to CS intensity regardless of the intensity of the training stimulus, (b) reliable stimulus generalization occurred between contralateral caudate nuclei when generalization was tested using CS alone trials rather than a differential conditioning procedure, and (c) stimulus generalization did not occur between the caudate nucleus and either lateral geniculate nucleus. (21 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).