Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
08:30
Operant Procedures for Assessing Behavioral Flexibility in Rats
Published on: February 15, 2015
Intermittent reinforcement of a continuous response.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|January 1, 1987
Summary
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:
- 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.
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