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PARTIAL NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT: FIXED-RATIO ESCAPE.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|October 1, 1963
Summary
Rats struggled with escape behavior (-FR 8) without positive reinforcement. Adding water improved performance, suggesting the absence of shock itself can become aversive.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral neuroscience
- Animal behavior studies
Background:
- Negative reinforcement schedules, like escape from shock, are crucial in understanding operant conditioning.
- Previous research indicates challenges in maintaining behavior solely on negative reinforcement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate rat performance under an escape from shock schedule (fixed-ratio 8).
- To examine the effect of secondary positive reinforcement (water) on escape behavior.
- To explore the potential aversive properties of the absence of shock.
Main Methods:
- Rats were trained on a fixed-ratio 8 (FR 8) schedule where eight bar-presses terminated a shock.
- A second experiment introduced water reinforcement contingent on the FR 8 schedule.
- Response rates were monitored throughout both experimental conditions and during extinction.
Main Results:
- Rats failed to sustain consistent bar-pressing behavior under the shock escape (FR 8) schedule alone.
- The addition of water reinforcement led to a moderate and sustained response rate.
- Following the withdrawal of water, some rats continued bar-pressing at a significantly reduced rate.
Conclusions:
- The absence of shock, particularly after intermittent escape conditioning, may acquire aversive properties.
- Secondary positive reinforcement is crucial for maintaining behavior in certain escape paradigms.
- Operant conditioning principles, including negative reinforcement and conditioned aversion, are demonstrated.