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Related Experiment Videos

Conditioned reinforcement and choice.

J A Nevin, C Mandell

    Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
    |January 1, 1978
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Rats preferred a lever associated with a conditioned reinforcer (light plus signal) over one without, demonstrating learned preferences based on predictive cues. This preference persisted even when cues were partially removed, showing robust associative learning.

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    Area of Science:

    • Behavioral neuroscience
    • Animal behavior
    • Learning and conditioning

    Background:

    • Understanding how animals learn to prefer certain stimuli is crucial for behavioral science.
    • Conditioned reinforcers play a significant role in shaping behavior, but their precise influence needs further elucidation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate whether rats prefer a schedule component associated with a conditioned reinforcer over one without.
    • To examine the role of auditory signals as conditioned reinforcers in choice behavior.
    • To assess the stability of learned preferences when predictive cues are manipulated.

    Main Methods:

    • Rats were exposed to two-lever schedules where lever pressing produced light, and nose-key pressing produced water during light periods.
    • Auditory signals were presented, one correlated with water (positive signal) and the other with nonreinforcement (negative signal).

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  • Choice and forced trials were used to assess lever preference and response rates under different cue conditions.

    • Main Results:

    • Rats showed a clear preference for the lever associated with the positive auditory signal (conditioned reinforcer).
    • Higher rates of responding were maintained on the preferred lever in nonchoice trials.
    • Preferences persisted when signals were deleted but were not established in naive subjects exposed to only one signal initially.

    Conclusions:

    • Rats prefer schedule components that include a conditioned reinforcer, even when primary reinforcement schedules and signal information are equated.
    • Auditory signals effectively act as conditioned reinforcers, guiding choice behavior.
    • Learned preferences are robust but require initial exposure to both positive and negative predictive cues for establishment.