An application of the active time model to multiple concurrent variable-interval schedules

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Animal Cognition
• Operant Conditioning

Background:

• Concurrent variable-interval (VI) VI experiments with pigeons have yielded anomalous results.
• Existing models struggle to fully account for these findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if an active time model can explain anomalous results in concurrent VI VI experiments.
• To compare the predictive power of the active time model against a variant of scalar expectancy theory.

Main Methods:

• Pigeons were trained under concurrent VI 30-s VI 30-s and VI 60-s VI 60-s schedules.
• Probe trials paired VI 30-s and VI 60-s stimuli, with choices recorded.
• The active time model's predictions were fitted to individual subject data.

Main Results:

• Pigeons allocated choices equally between paired VI 30-s and VI 60-s stimuli during probe trials.
• The active time model provided an accurate fit to individual pigeon choice data.
• A variant of scalar expectancy theory did not fit the observed data.

Conclusions:

• The active time model successfully accounts for anomalous findings in concurrent VI VI schedules.
• The active time model offers a better explanation of choice behavior than scalar expectancy theory in this context.