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Related Experiment Videos

Dishabituation with component transitions may contribute to the interactions observed during multiple schedules.

Frances K. McSweeney1, Eric S. Murphy, Benjamin P. Kowal

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

Behavioural Processes
|August 14, 2003
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Behavioral contrast in rats is influenced by reinforcement schedules. Higher response rates occurred under specific multiple schedules, challenging existing assumptions in behavioral psychology.

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral psychology
  • Animal behavior research
  • Operant conditioning principles

Background:

  • Behavioral contrast is a phenomenon where changes in reinforcement in one component of a multiple schedule affect responding in another component.
  • Previous research has yielded mixed results regarding the occurrence and mechanisms of behavioral contrast in rats.
  • Habituation to reinforcers is hypothesized to play a role in mediating behavioral interactions within multiple schedules.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of different multiple schedules on response rates in rats.
  • To examine the role of habituation to reinforcers in behavioral interactions.
  • To challenge established assumptions about behavioral contrast and reinforcement schedules.

Main Methods:

  • Rats were exposed to multiple schedules of reinforcement, including multiple VI 30-s FI 30-s and multiple VI 30-s VI 30-s schedules.
  • Response rates were recorded during different components of the multiple schedules.
  • Within-session patterns of responding were analyzed to assess habituation effects.

Main Results:

  • Response rates were significantly higher in the VI 30-s component of a multiple VI 30-s FI 30-s schedule compared to a multiple VI 30-s VI 30-s schedule.
  • Response rates were also higher in the FI 30-s component of a multiple VI 30-s FI 30-s schedule versus a multiple FI 30-s FI 30-s schedule.
  • These rate differences were not observed with longer interval schedules (VI or FI 120-s).

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest that differences in habituation to reinforcers may influence behavioral interactions, but this was not evident in within-session responding patterns.
  • The results contradict assumptions that behavioral contrast does not occur in rats.
  • The study indicates that enhancing reinforcement conditions can paradoxically increase response rates in alternative components, challenging traditional models of operant behavior.