The effects of a local negative feedback function between choice and relative reinforcer rate

Area of Science:

• Behavioral psychology
• Animal behavior
• Operant conditioning

Background:

• Concurrent variable-interval schedules are fundamental to understanding choice behavior.
• Previous research often focuses on local reinforcement effects, neglecting molar properties.
• Molar feedback functions introduce a link between choice patterns and future reinforcement probabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of molar feedback functions on choice behavior in pigeons.
• To examine how the slope of a negatively sloped feedback function influences choice.
• To differentiate between local and molar effects in concurrent schedule performance.

Main Methods:

• Four pigeons were trained on a two-key concurrent variable-interval schedule without changeover delay.
• Phase 1 involved varying relative reinforcers across five conditions.
• Phases 2 and 3 introduced linear, negatively sloped molar feedback functions with slopes of -1 and -3, respectively, altering reinforcement probability based on prior choice.

Main Results:

• Local choice behavior within interreinforcer intervals showed minimal effects from the feedback functions.
• Choice measured across extended sessions was significantly reduced as the negative slope of the feedback function increased.
• Increasing the negative slope from -1 to -3 led to a strong decrease in overall choice.

Conclusions:

• Molar feedback functions, particularly those with steeper negative slopes, exert a significant influence on overall choice behavior.
• The findings highlight the importance of considering molar properties in understanding choice under concurrent schedules.
• Behavioral economics principles can be applied to animal choice, demonstrating sensitivity to long-term reinforcement contingencies.