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Development and maintenance of choice in a dynamic environment.
Andrew M Rodewald1, Christine E Hughes, Raymond C Pitts
1Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322, USA. a.rodewald@aggiemail.usu.edu
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|April 1, 2011
Summary
Pigeons rapidly adjusted their choice behavior in a mixed schedule, showing sensitivity to reinforcement. Reinforcer history influenced preference, with effects strengthening over time in this animal behavior study.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Animal Behavior
- Operant Conditioning
Background:
- Studies by Davison, Baum, and colleagues established methods for examining choice behavior under mixed schedules.
- Understanding how reinforcer history affects choice is crucial for behavioral models.
- Previous research indicates rapid adjustment of preference in similar procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the development and characteristics of choice behavior in pigeons under a mixed schedule with varying reinforcer ratios.
- To analyze the influence of reinforcer history, including continuations and discontinuations, on preference.
- To examine how preference pulses and other choice parameters evolve over 100 sessions.
Main Methods:
- Four pigeons were exposed to a mixed schedule with seven components, each offering a different left:right reinforcer ratio.
- Components were presented randomly, lasted for 10 reinforcers, and were separated by blackouts.
- Data were analyzed across 10-session blocks from Session 1 to Session 100.
Main Results:
- Pigeons demonstrated rapid adjustment of preference within components, indicating increased sensitivity to reinforcement.
- Preference increased with successive reinforcers (continuations) but decreased after a reinforcer on the alternative option (discontinuation).
- Food deliveries produced immediate 'preference pulses,' and these effects, along with continuations, strengthened over sessions.
Conclusions:
- The fundamental structure of choice behavior developed quickly within the first 10 sessions and was maintained.
- Systematic changes in choice characteristics, such as the strengthening of reinforcer effects and preference pulses, occurred across sessions.
- Behavioral models may need to account for session-by-session variations in behavior allocation for greater accuracy.
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