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Reinforced variability and operant learning.

A Neuringer1, C Deiss, G Olson

  • 1Department of Psychology, Reed College, Portland, Oregon 97202, USA. allen.neuringer@reed.edu

Journal of Experimental Psychology. Animal Behavior Processes
|January 29, 2000
PubMed
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Reinforcing sequence variations in operant learning helped rats learn difficult tasks. Concurrent reinforcement, whether for any sequence or specifically for variations, maintained responding, but only reinforcement contingent on variability led to learning.

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral psychology
  • Animal learning
  • Operant conditioning

Background:

  • Operant learning involves voluntary actions influenced by consequences.
  • Understanding factors that promote learning complex behavioral sequences is crucial.
  • Variability in responding is a key aspect of adaptive behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of reinforcement variability in operant learning.
  • To determine if reinforcing variations enhances the acquisition of complex lever-press sequences in rats.
  • To compare the effects of contingent and non-contingent reinforcement of variability.

Main Methods:

  • Three groups of rats (variability [VAR], any sequence [ANY], control [CON]) were trained on target lever-press sequences.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Reinforcement schedules varied: VAR received reinforcement for variations, ANY for any sequence, and CON received no additional reinforcement.
  • Performance was assessed on easy and difficult target sequences.

    • Main Results:

    • All groups learned easy target sequences equally well.
    • For difficult sequences, CON responding extinguished, while VAR and ANY groups maintained high response rates.
    • Only the VAR group demonstrated learning of the difficult sequences.

    Conclusions:

    • Concurrent reinforcement, regardless of contingency, can maintain responding during challenging operant learning tasks.
    • Learning complex operant sequences is facilitated by reinforcement specifically contingent on response variability.
    • Reinforcement of variation is a critical factor for acquiring novel and difficult behavioral patterns.