SPATIAL CONTIGUITY FACILITATES PAVLOVIAN CONDITIONING

The spatial contiguity between Pavlovian conditioned and unconditioned stimuli was examined using a chamber designed to prevent the usual co nfounding with delay of reinforcement. Eight ring doves were autoshape d in this apparatus. For half of the trials, a conditioned stimulus (C S) was presented 11 cm from the unconditioned stimulus (US); for the o ther trials, another CS was presented 74 cm away. After extended train ing, the stimuli were presented in nonreinforced test trials at a comm on, intermediate (42 cm) position. The CS that had been nearer the US was approached more closely, indicating that higher spatial contiguity facilitates Pavlovian conditioning.