Preference Behavior in Relation to Preparatory Response Hypothesis and Information Theory

The present study was designed to analyze preference behavior in a two-choice situation. Predictions were derived from both information theory (Attneave, 1959) and the preparatory response hypothesis (Perkins, 1955). Three groups of 10 female rats were run in a Y-maze with each receiving one of three different shock probabilities, 100%, 50%, 25%, i.e., the 100% group received shock for either choice 100% of the time, the 50% group received shock 50% of the time for each choice, etc. On one side of the maze the shock was preceded by a light signal, while on the other side was followed by a light.