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Conditional reinforcers and informative stimuli in a constant environment
Nathalie Boutros1, Michael Davison, Douglas Elliffe
1Department of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. n.boutros@auckland.ac.nz
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|February 24, 2009
Summary
In pigeons, nonfood stimuli paired with food did not alter overall matching behavior. However, these paired stimuli influenced local response patterns, independent of food-stimulus correlation.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Animal Cognition
- Operant Conditioning
Background:
- Understanding how stimuli influence behavior is crucial in operant conditioning.
- Previous research indicates environmental context affects stimulus control.
- The role of stimulus-food pairings and correlations in choice behavior needs further exploration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of stimulus-food pairings and correlations on pigeons' generalized matching behavior.
- To examine the local effects of paired stimuli on response patterns.
- To compare findings in a steady-state environment with those from frequently changing environments.
Main Methods:
- Five pigeons were trained on concurrent variable-interval variable-interval schedules.
- Nonfood stimuli were introduced, either paired or unpaired with food, with varying correlations (-1, 0, +1) to food delivery.
- Generalized matching performance and local stimulus effects were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Neither stimulus-food pairing nor stimulus-food correlation significantly affected overall generalized matching.
- Paired stimuli demonstrated a significant effect on local response patterns, independent of the food-stimulus correlation.
- These findings contrast with previous results from frequently changing environments.
Conclusions:
- The information value of response-contingent stimuli may differ between constant and changing environments.
- Simultaneous or forward pairing of stimuli with food can influence behavior locally, irrespective of broader correlations.
- Environmental stability plays a key role in how stimuli acquire and exert control over behavior.
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