Positive interaction (induction) in multiple variable-interval, differential-reinforcement-of-high-rate schedules

Area of Science:

• Behavioral psychology
• Animal behavior studies
• Operant conditioning principles

Background:

• Multiple schedules of reinforcement are used to study complex behavior.
• Understanding how different components of a schedule interact is crucial.
• Previous research has explored rate dependency in operant behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of altered response rates in one schedule component on another.
• To examine the generality of response rate changes across schedule components.
• To explore the relationship between reinforcement rate and response rate interactions.

Main Methods:

• Pigeons were trained on a multiple schedule with two variable-interval components.
• One component was switched to a differential reinforcement of high rates schedule.
• Reinforcement rates were kept equivalent across components.

Main Results:

• Four out of five pigeons increased their responding in both schedule components.
• Response rate increases were observed even when reinforcement rates did not change.
• This suggests a transfer effect of increased responding between schedule components.

Conclusions:

• Altering reinforcement schedules can lead to generalized changes in responding.
• Response rate increases in one component can influence responding in another, independent component.
• Behavioral momentum or related mechanisms may explain these cross-component effects.