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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Touchscreen Sustained Attention Task (SAT) for Rats
Published on: September 15, 2017
An evaluation of the types of attention that maintain problem behavior
Tiffany Kodak1, John Northup, Michael E Kelley
1Louisiana State University and Marcus Institute, USA. tkodak1@lsu.edu
Abstract:
Although previous research indicates that certain types of attention (i.e., statements related to behavior, tickles) may be differentially reinforcing, only one or two forms of attention are typically provided contingent on problem behavior during the attention condition in experimental functional analyses. In the present investigation, various forms of attention were provided contingent on problem behavior to identify the influence of each form of attention. Results indicated that the attention forms affected problem behavior differently; these outcomes are discussed in terms of their implications for assessment and treatment.
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