Dynamic equilibrium on a cyclic-interval schedule with a ramp
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Simulation of Human-induced Vibrations Based on the Characterized In-field Pedestrian Behavior
Published on: April 13, 2016
Abstract:
Five human subjects pressed a panel for money on a cyclic-interval schedule that arranged recurring periods of linearly increasing reinforcement rates (ramps). Response rate versus time functions for all subjects showed recurring periods of linearly increasing response rates. The responding of four of the five subjects was in phase with the reinforcement input. The remaining subject showed a two-minute phase shift. These results suggest that organisms may act like simple amplifiers on cyclic-interval schedules, that is, the form of the input signal is not changed by the organism, but is returned with amplification. By analogy with the variable-interval case, the controlling variable on cyclic-interval schedules with rate ramps may be the constant reinforcement acceleration that is arranged by the schedule.
Related Concept Videos
Basic Discrete Time Signals
The unit impulse or sample sequence is mathematically expressed as zero for all n values except at n=0, where it is one. The unit impulse sequence, denoted by δ(n), is the first difference of the unit step sequence, while the unit step sequence u(n) is the...
Static Equilibrium - II
Energy Diagrams - I
Take the example of a skater on a parabolic ramp. The potential energy at different points along the ramp will be proportional to the height of the ramp, which varies quadratically with the horizontal position on the ramp. As the skater moves down the ramp from the highest position,...
Kinematic Equations - II
Suppose a car merges into freeway traffic on a 200 m long ramp. If its initial velocity is 10 m/s and it accelerates at 2 m/s2, then the...
Transient and Steady-state Response
These test signals are integral in designing control systems to exhibit two key performance aspects: transient response and steady-state response.
Damped Oscillations
Although friction and other non-conservative...
