THE TRANSFER OF RESPONDENT ELICITING AND EXTINCTION FUNCTIONS THROUGHSTIMULUS EQUIVALENCE CLASSES

Two studies investigated the transfer of respondent elicitation throug h equivalence classes. In Experiment 1, match-to-sample procedures wer e used to teach 8 subjects two four-member equivalence classes. One me mber of one class was then paired with electric shock, and one member of the other class was presented without shock. All remaining stimuli were then presented. Using skin conductance as the measure of conditio ning, transfer of conditioning was demonstrated in 6 of the 8 subjects . In Experiment 2, similar procedures were used to replicate the resul ts of Experiment 1 and investigate the transfer of extinction. Followi ng equivalence training and conditioning to all members of one class, one member was then presented in extinction. When the remaining stimul i from this class were then presented, they failed to elicit skin cond uctance. In the final phase of the experiment, the stimulus that was p reviously presented in extinction was reconditioned. Test trials with other members of the class revealed that they regained elicitation fun ction. These results demonstrate that both respondent elicitation and extinction can transfer through stimulus classes. The clinical and app lied significance of the results is discussed.