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Reinforcement Schedules

Reinforcement Schedules

Positive reinforcement is a powerful method for teaching new behaviors to both animals and humans. B.F. Skinner demonstrated this with his experiments using rats in a Skinner box. When a rat pressed a lever, it received a food pellet. This immediate reward encouraged the rat to repeat the behavior. This method, where a reward follows every instance of the behavior, is known as continuous reinforcement. It is highly effective for establishing new behaviors quickly.
Once a behavior is learned,...

Reinforcement

Reinforcement

Positive and negative reinforcement are key concepts in operant conditioning, a learning process where the consequences of a behavior affect the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.
Positive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by the presentation of a rewarding stimulus, increasing the frequency of that behavior. For example:

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Investigating the Deployment of Visual Attention Before Accurate and Averaging Saccades via Eye Tracking and Assessment of Visual Sensitivity

Investigating the Deployment of Visual Attention Before Accurate and Averaging Saccades via Eye Tracking and Assessment of Visual Sensitivity

Published on: March 18, 2019

Modification of saccadic gain by reinforcement.

Laurent Madelain¹, Céline Paeye, Josh Wallman

¹Laboratoire Ureca, Unité de Formation et de Recherche de Psychologie, Université Ch De Gaulle Lille III, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France. laurent.madelain@univ-lille3.fr

Journal of Neurophysiology

|April 29, 2011

Summary

Saccadic gain can be modified by reinforcement learning, not just visual error. This study shows that reinforcement can alter saccade amplitude, suggesting broader learning mechanisms in motor control.

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Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Oculomotor control
Motor learning

Background:

Saccadic gain control is traditionally attributed to postsaccadic retinal error correction.
The role of reinforcement learning in modifying saccadic behavior is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether saccadic gain can be altered by reinforcement without visual error.
To explore the underlying learning mechanisms involved in saccade adaptation.

Main Methods:

Experimental paradigms using auditory or visual reinforcement for saccades meeting amplitude criteria, with target extinction to remove visual error.
Reversal of reinforcement contingencies and comparison with conventional intrasaccadic step adaptation.

Main Results:

Reinforcement procedures induced progressive changes in saccade amplitude in most subjects.
Reversed contingencies led to recovery of normal saccade gain.
Both reinforcement and error-based adaptation produced similar gain changes and transfer effects.

Conclusions:

Saccade adaptation is not solely controlled by a single postsaccadic retinal error signal.
Reinforcement learning offers an alternative pathway for modifying saccadic gain.
Normal saccade adaptation may involve general learning mechanisms beyond specialized motor calibration.