Abstract
Newts were trained under a massed-trial condition and then extinguished in a straight alleyway to assess the partial reinforcement extinction effect (PREE). There were four groups: one partial reinforcement group trained using a random schedule (RA), two partial groups for which reinforcement ratios were gradually increased (GI) or decreased (GD), and a continuous reinforcement group (CR). They showed significant acquisition and extinction effects. The CR group was the most resistant to extinction, with no significant difference among the other three. The results indicate a reverse PREE in newts, and suggest that their learning is controlled mainly by a simple Strengthening-Weakening mechanism.
