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Related Experiment Videos

An interresponse time analysis of variable-ratio punishment.

S D Lande

    Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
    |January 1, 1981
    PubMed
    Summary

    Variable-ratio punishment schedules, using electric shock, caused pigeons to exhibit response bursting, characterized by shorter unreinforced intervals. This bursting paradoxically led to increased response rates under certain conditions.

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    Area of Science:

    • Behavioral Psychology
    • Animal Behavior
    • Operant Conditioning

    Background:

    • Understanding the temporal patterns of reinforced responding is crucial in behavioral psychology.
    • Punishment schedules are known to alter response rates, but their effect on response patterning requires further investigation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To analyze the effects of variable-ratio punishment schedules on the temporal patterning of reinforced responding in pigeons.
    • To investigate how interresponse times are affected by variable-ratio punishment.

    Main Methods:

    • Pigeons were initially trained on a variable-interval schedule of food reinforcement.
    • A variable-ratio schedule of electric shock punishment was introduced and systematically increased in intensity.
    • Interresponse time analysis was used to quantify changes in response patterns.

    Main Results:

    • Variable-ratio punishment led to an increased frequency of very short unreinforced interresponse times (response bursting).
    • Response bursting was associated with instances of response rate facilitation.
    • Following shock, interresponse times showed a decreasing mean length over the initial responses.

    Conclusions:

    • Variable-ratio punishment schedules significantly alter the temporal patterning of reinforced responding.
    • Response bursting is a key phenomenon resulting from this type of punishment.
    • The findings contribute to understanding the complex interplay between punishment and response patterning in operant conditioning.

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