Some effects of response-dependent clock stimuli in a fixed-interval schedule

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Animal Behavior

Background:

• Fixed-interval schedules of reinforcement are fundamental in behavioral psychology.
• Understanding how stimuli influence behavior within these schedules is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of response-dependent clock stimuli on behavior under fixed-interval schedules.
• To compare the effects of discriminative clock stimuli versus non-discriminative stimuli.

Main Methods:

• Two experiments with pigeons utilized fixed-interval schedules.
• Experiment 1 compared a 'clock condition' (stimuli varied across interval) with a control (constant stimulus).
• Experiment 2 used a two-key optional procedure with stimuli signaling different minutes of the interval.

Main Results:

• In Experiment 1, the clock condition led to lower response rates and longer post-reinforcement pauses.
• In Experiment 2, removing the final stimulus decreased clock-key responding.
• Resuming clock-key responding occurred when the final stimulus was reintroduced.

Conclusions:

• Response-dependent clock stimuli significantly alter behavior in fixed-interval schedules.
• The discriminative properties of stimuli signaling temporal progression are critical for maintaining behavior.