Word: feedboxes
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...Crazy. Working on a grant from the Otho Sprague Institute, Dr. Masserman rigged up an automatic feeding apparatus which dropped some food into the feedbox of a glass cage every time a light flashed on. He then trained cats, one at a time, to lift the lid of the feedbox whenever the light flashed. After the cats were conditioned to associate light with food, he shot a harmless blast of air into the cage at the moment the cat reached for the lid. This gale at mealtime frightened the cats. After repeated frustrations the animals associated the feedbox and signal...
...Sane. Dr. Masserman left the animals to their phobias and conflicts for several months, then set out to cure them by psychiatric sessions in the experimental cage. One group he treated by "reassurance and suggestion." The cats were gently carried to the feedbox, stroked and fondled, petted and coaxed to eat. At first, when the doctor stopped stroking, the cats stopped feeding. But gradually they lost their fears...