Document Type

Thesis

Date of Degree Completion

Fall 1974

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Experimental Psychology

Committee Chair

Vaughn Gerald Reed

Second Committee Member

Terry L. Devietti

Third Committee Member

Max Zwanziger

Abstract

Two experiments were performed, first to test the footshock threshold for rats reared in the Central Washington State College rat colony and second to test for reinforcing effects of low level footshock for sensory deprived subjects. The threshold study consisted of an active avoidance situation with a low intensity footshock as the conditioned stimulus. Using the method of limits, thresholds were established (using 200k. ohms resistance in series) at 19.10 Vac and 22.60 Vac for sensory deprived and control subjects respectively. The second study tested for preference for footshock versus no footshock in an open shuttle box situation. No significant difference was found between sensory deprived and control subjects. The amount of time spend on the shock side was a decreasing function of increasing shock intensity. The results were interpreted to contradict Hebb's arousal hypothesis.

Comments

This thesis has been digitized and made available as part of the University’s ongoing preservation and access initiatives. Copyright is retained by the original author. The University has made a good faith effort to review this work for copyright and privacy concerns prior to digitization. If you are the author or a rights holder and have questions, concerns or wish to request removal, please contact ScholarWorks@cwu.edu.

Download

Share

COinS