Stimulus conditions that promote habitual control.

ABSTRACT: Two experiments in rats examined how training where a stimulus signaled when to respond for reward, conditions that should favour S-R learning, might lead to habitual control of behaviour. Experiment 1 investigated how animals trained with a stimulus preceding lever insertion would impact learning relative to a group that was self-paced and could control lever insertion with a second, distinct response. Rats were then tested for sensitivity to outcome devaluation to distinguish between goal-directed and habitual control. We found that free-operant, self-paced conditions promoted goal-directed control while signaling trials with a stimulus promoted habitual control evidenced as insensitivity to outcome devaluation. Experiment 2 assessed whether the stimulus-outcome association is important

SUBMITTER: Pierce-Messick ZJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11621787 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature