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Related Experiment Videos

Within-session changes in responding during concurrent variable interval variable ratio schedules.

F K. McSweeney1, E S. Murphy, B P. Kowal

  • 1Department of Psychology, Washington State University, 99164-4820, Pullman, WA, USA

Behavioural Processes
|August 3, 2001
PubMed
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Behavioral economics research shows that within-session changes in responding do not invalidate the generalized matching law (GML) in rats and pigeons. Both over- and under-matching occur on a continuum.

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral psychology
  • Animal behavior
  • Reinforcement schedules

Background:

  • The generalized matching law (GML) is a fundamental model in behavioral economics describing choice behavior.
  • Understanding how response patterns change within experimental sessions is crucial for validating behavioral models.
  • Concurrent variable interval (VI) and variable ratio (VR) schedules are commonly used to study choice and reinforcement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether within-session changes in response rates and time allocation affect the parameters and fit of the GML.
  • To examine the occurrence of over- and under-matching in rats and pigeons under concurrent VI-VR schedules.
  • To assess the implications of within-session response variability for the validity of the GML.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Two experiments were conducted using rats (Experiment 1) and pigeons (Experiment 2).
  • Subjects responded to concurrent variable interval (VI) and variable ratio (VR) schedules.
  • Response rates and time spent in each component were recorded, and GML parameters (bias and sensitivity) were analyzed within sessions.

Main Results:

  • Response rates, but not time spent responding, typically changed within sessions for both species.
  • The bias and sensitivity parameters of the GML remained systematically stable within sessions.
  • The GML fit was consistent for pigeons but varied for rats, with better fits in the middle of sessions for some rats. Both over- and under-matching were observed.

Conclusions:

  • Within-session response changes do not generally compromise the validity of the GML when using concurrent VI-VR schedules.
  • Over- and under-matching appear to represent points on a single continuum rather than being driven by distinct factors.
  • The GML provides a robust framework for understanding choice behavior even with dynamic response patterns within experimental sessions.