Figure 4.10 Latent Learning There were three different groups of rats, and each rat received one trial per day in a maze. Latent learning is evident for the rats who did not receive reinforcement until Day 11. Once reinforcement (a food reward in the goal box at the end of the maze) was given, these rats demonstrated their prior learning of the maze on the first 11 days by immediately (on Day 12) doing as well as the rats that had been regularly reinforced. They had learned a cognitive map of the maze, and when reinforcement became available, they used it. This learning remained latent (present but not evident) until their maze-running behavior was reinforced.
(From Tolman & Honzik, 1930c.)