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Published on: November 11, 2011
Observing behavior in squirrel monkeys under a multiple schedule of reinforcement availability
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|September 1, 1971
Summary
Squirrel monkeys reduced observing behavior when food availability cues were less frequent. Response rates increased when cues indicating food unavailability were reinstated, demonstrating stimulus control in operant conditioning.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Animal Behavior
- Operant Conditioning
Background:
- Understanding stimulus control is crucial in operant conditioning.
- Observing behavior, a form of indirect reinforcement, is influenced by environmental stimuli.
- Squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) are often used in behavioral research due to their complex cognitive abilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of stimulus frequency on observing behavior in squirrel monkeys.
- To examine the role of discriminative stimuli in maintaining observing responses.
- To analyze response patterns under different schedules of reinforcement and extinction.
Main Methods:
- Two squirrel monkeys were exposed to a four-component multiple schedule.
- Lever responses (observing) produced stimuli indicating food availability or unavailability.
- Key responses were reinforced with food only when food-available stimuli were present; observing responses were regulated by random-interval schedules.
Main Results:
- Observing response rates decreased as the frequency of food-available stimuli decreased.
- During extinction, observing rates continued to decline when stimuli signaled food unavailability were absent.
- Response rates abruptly increased upon reinstatement of the brief stimulus indicating food unavailability.
Conclusions:
- Observing behavior in squirrel monkeys is highly sensitive to the frequency of associated stimuli.
- Discriminative stimuli play a significant role in maintaining observing responses, even under extinction conditions.
- The findings highlight the importance of stimulus properties in operant behavior and stimulus control.
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