Preference as a function of active interresponse times: a test of the active time model

Area of Science:

• Behavioral psychology
• Animal behavior studies
• Operant conditioning

Background:

• The active time model (ATM) posits that the time since the last response influences choice behavior in concurrent schedules of reinforcement.
• Previous research, such as Belke (1992), has investigated choice behavior under concurrent variable interval (VI) schedules.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the active time model (ATM) predictions for concurrent variable interval (VI) choice.
• To examine how interresponse times influence choice under concurrent VI VI schedules.

Main Methods:

• Pigeons were trained using a discrete-trial procedure with concurrent VI 20-s/VI 40-s and VI 40-s/VI 80-s schedules.
• Interresponse times were restricted to 0.5-9.0 seconds.
• Unreinforced probe periods with short (0.5-3.0 s) or long (7.5-9.0 s) interresponse times were introduced.

Main Results:

• Pigeons consistently preferred the stimulus associated with the richer VI 40-s schedule, consistent with prior findings.
• This preference was significantly stronger during the long interresponse time probes compared to the short interresponse time probes.

Conclusions:

• The results support the active time model's (ATM) prediction that response-to-response intervals modulate choice behavior.
• The study highlights the importance of considering temporal factors, specifically time since the last response, in understanding choice under reinforcement schedules.