A Direct Comparison of Four Response Elimination Procedures in Rats

Thirty two rats received training on a VI 30 second reinforcement schedule and were then shift ed to one of four response elimination procedures: Extinction Training, Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior. Counter-conditioning of a Different Response, and Counter-conditioning of a Similar Response. Evaluated in terms of efficiency (number of original responses made during Treatment) and durability (number of original responses made in Test and Reconditioning Phases), Counter-conditioning a similar response emerged as the least efficient response elimination procedure and the least durable. Extinction Training was low in efficiency, but relatively more durable than both Counter- conditioning techniques. Counter-conditioning a Different Response was intermediate in terms of efficiency but low in durability, while Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior resulted in the best response-elimination