The analysis of behavioral momentum

Learned behavior varies in its resistance to change, depending on the rate of reinforcement. Resistance to change may be characterized as behavioral momentum, which in turn may be analyzed into terms corresponding to mass and velocity in classical physics. Behavioral mass may be inferred from changes in response rate when experimental conditions are altered. Relevant data were obtained by training pigeons to peck a key on two-component multiple variable-interval, variable-interval schedules. Six pigeons were studied on three pairs of variable-interval schedules in all possible orders. When performance stabilized, resistance to change was assessed by arranging response-independent food during periods between components and by extinction. For each operation, the data for all schedule performances converged onto a single function, permitting estimation of the ratio of behavioral masses for each pair of schedules. The response-independent food data suggested that the ratio of behavioral masses is a power function of the ratio of reinforcement rates and that behavioral mass may be measured on a ratio scale.