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Exteroceptive control of fixed-interval responding
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|January 1, 1962
Summary
Pigeons exposed to time-related visual cues learned to associate them with food. These "clock" stimuli gained control of behavior, though complex temporal discriminations emerged.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral psychology
- Animal cognition
- Operant conditioning
Background:
- Fixed-interval schedules are fundamental to operant conditioning.
- Understanding temporal control of behavior is crucial for explaining complex actions.
- Exteroceptive stimuli can mediate temporal discriminations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of visual
- clock
- stimuli in fixed-interval schedules.
- To analyze the generated behaviors when stimuli are behavior-contingent.
- To explore the interplay between visual and temporal discriminations.
Main Methods:
- Exposing pigeons to fixed-interval schedules with and without time-related visual stimuli.
- Manipulating stimulus control by making visual cues contingent on behavior.
- Observing and analyzing response patterns and temporal control.
Main Results:
- Visual
- clock
- stimuli exerted significant control over pigeon behavior.
- At longer intervals, a temporal discrimination superimposed on visual discrimination was observed.
- Behavior-contingent stimuli generated novel response patterns, indicating complex stimulus functions.
Conclusions:
- Visual stimuli associated with time passage can effectively control behavior under fixed-interval schedules.
- Complex temporal discriminations can emerge, interacting with visual cue control.
- Behavioral responses to contingent stimuli suggest a mix of positive and negative reinforcement effects.