Conditioned switching-over was studied in unrestrained animals by means of instrumental alimentary conditioned reflexes of pressing the pedal. A complex of auditory and spatial factors (start-ground) served as conditioned alimentary signal. Backward connections were stable and were manifested in the teturning of the animal to the start-ground after feeding. It has been confirmed that the observed working readiness is a conditioned reflex of a tonic type.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Complex form of instrumental behavior in the dog].

A complex form of higher nervous activity, conditioned switching over, was elaborated in four dogs freely moving in an experimental room, under conditions of choice of kind (food or water) and place of reinforcement, determined by situational factors, as well as of independent switching on of conditioned stimuli. The formation of such behaviour was attended with neurotic disturbances of higher nervous activity, which disappeared after a break in the work and the animals' rest. It was shown that motivational goal-directed behaviour of the animals is due to activation of direct and backward conditioned connections. Chains of instrumental conditioned reflexes, which in the final analysis form complex behaviour are elaborated by "trials and errors". Subsequently the phenomenon of afferent and efferent generalization sets in.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Dynamics of formation of water and food instrumental conditioned reflexes in freely moving dogs].

The dynamics of food and water conditioning was studied in freely moving dogs choosing the reinforcement. The dog's behaviour at any given moment was determined by the correlations of the excitability of the structures of the corresponding vital unconditioned reflexes. A directed change in the excitability of the structures of the unconditioned (alimentary and water) reflexes by raising or lowering the animal's excitability (hunger, satiation, thirst) resulted in a change of the animal's behaviour and its motivation. Goal directed movements of the animals are based on activation of backward conditioned connections.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Interaction of instrumental habits in the sphere of heterogeneous conditioned reflex activity].

The phenomenon of interference of one reflex with another was observed in dogs during performance of heterogeneous instrumental conditioned reflexes elicited in a stereotype order. When alimentary conditioned reflexes involving the right-leg movement, were elaborated before the defensive ones involving the left fore-leg movement, then manifestation of the second reflex was preceded by a movement with the right leg. When the elaboration of conditioned reflexes started with defensive reflexes, the opposite was observed: before performing the alimentary reflex, the dogs lifted first the left fore-leg connected with the defensive reflex, and then the right one. Inertia of the nervous mechanism underlying this phenomenon, is based on a tonic increase in the excitability of the corresponding structures.

Animals↗