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Intermittent reinforcement of a continuous response.

D P Rider, N N Kametani

    Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
    |January 1, 1987
    PubMed
    Summary
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    Variable reinforcement schedules maintained more lever holding than fixed schedules in rats. This suggests reinforcement schedules fundamentally shape behavior, whether discrete or continuous.

    Area of Science:

    • Behavioral psychology
    • Operant conditioning

    Background:

    • Reinforcement schedules shape animal behavior.
    • Understanding response-reinforcer relationships is key to behavioral analysis.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To compare the effectiveness of fixed versus variable reinforcement schedules on lever-holding duration in rats.
    • To analyze temporal response patterns and postreinforcement pausing under different schedules.

    Main Methods:

    • Six rats were trained using food deliveries contingent on lever presses and holds.
    • Fixed-hold requirements ranged from 15s to 90s; variable-hold requirements ranged from 15s to 120s.
    • Lever holding, response patterns, and postreinforcement pauses were recorded.

    Main Results:

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    • Variable schedules maintained more lever holding than fixed schedules, especially at longer durations.
    • Postreinforcement pause duration increased with lever-holding time for both schedule types.
    • Fixed schedules produced longer pauses than variable schedules at comparable holding times.

    Conclusions:

    • The response-reinforcer relation is a fundamental determinant of behavior, irrespective of response type (discrete vs. continuous).
    • Findings align with principles of intermittent reinforcement for discrete responses.
    • Reinforcement schedule parameters significantly influence response maintenance and temporal patterns.