Partial Reinforcement Acquisition and Extinction as Function of Odor Control

3 groups of albino rats were run in a runway under the same schedule of reward and nonreward, magnitude of reward, N-length and intertrial interval but differed in terms of odor conditions. Theoretically all groups should have been equally resistant to extinction. The results showed that evacuating odors during acquisition and extinction increased goal speed and resistance to extinction. When odors were not exhausted or were intensified, Ss extinguished at a much faster rate. The study points to the importance of odor control when running Ss in an alley.