EFFECT OF CER ON DRL RESPONDING.

Four lab rats pressed a lever for food on a DRL 16-second schedule.

The team then paired a tone with mild electric shock to create a conditioned emotional response (CER).

They watched if the rats kept pressing after the tone alone, no shock.

The tone shut lever pressing down to zero in every rat.

Normal post-shock suppression wore off in about ten days, but the CER effect stayed strong.

STAATROSS et al. (1962) saw extra, unprogrammed behaviors pop up during DRL. C et al. show those same DRL patterns can vanish when fear is added.

Reid et al. (1983) later found that blocking collateral activities raises DRL pressing. C et al. flip the coin: emotional suppression can wipe pressing out.

Together the three papers map a range—collateral play, space from food site, or pure fear—each pushing DRL rates up or down.

Your client’s DRL plan can crash if fear gets linked to task cues. Check for scary noises, harsh corrections, or staff frowns that might gain CER strength. Swap in new cues, pair them with praise, and test pressing again.