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Preference for conditioned reinforcement.

B A Williams1, R Dunn

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0109.

Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|January 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Pigeons learned that specific stimulus presentations, even without food, acted as reinforcers. This behavior demonstrated how conditioned reinforcement influences choice-making in pigeons.

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral science
  • Animal cognition
  • Operant conditioning

Background:

  • Conditioned reinforcement plays a crucial role in decision-making.
  • Previous research presented conflicting findings on the influence of conditioned reinforcers on choice behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of conditioned reinforcers in choice behavior using a concurrent-chains schedule in pigeons.
  • To determine if stimulus presentations, independent of primary reinforcement, could function as effective reinforcers.

Main Methods:

  • Pigeons were exposed to a concurrent-chains schedule where both initial choices led to the same terminal stimulus.
  • A secondary schedule superimposed non-food presentations of the terminal stimulus, with its relative frequency varied between choice alternatives.

Related Experiment Videos

  • The absolute number of non-food stimulus presentations was kept constant.

    • Main Results:

    • Pigeon preference for a choice alternative directly correlated with the relative frequency of non-food stimulus presentations.
    • This demonstrated that the non-food stimulus presentations effectively served as conditioned reinforcers.
    • The findings indicate that pigeons' choices were modulated by the relative value of conditioned reinforcement.

    Conclusions:

    • The study confirms that stimuli paired with non-reinforcement can act as conditioned reinforcers.
    • These findings resolve discrepancies in the literature concerning the impact of conditioned reinforcement on choice behavior.
    • This research provides a clearer understanding of the mechanisms underlying choice and reinforcement learning in pigeons.