Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
09:40
Measuring Neural and Behavioral Activity During Ongoing Computerized Social Interactions: An Examination of Event-Related Brain Potentials
Published on: November 15, 2014
Neuroscientific measures of covert behavior
1University of Stirling, Via Nuoro 16, 09045 Quartu S.E., Italy. daniele.ortu@gmail.com
The Behavior Analyst
|September 4, 2012
Summary
Neuroscience research using event-related potentials (ERPs) provides evidence for radical behaviorism. This study suggests covert behaviors are measurable and sensitive to environmental influences, validating Skinnerian principles.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Behavioral Psychology
- Radical Behaviorism
Background:
- Radical behaviorism posits that overt and covert behaviors differ only in measurement sensitivity.
- Neuroscience offers advanced tools to measure variables previously undetectable by behavior analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if event-related potentials (ERPs) can index covert behaviors.
- To determine if covert operants are sensitive to stimulus control and consequences.
- To explore if ERPs validate Skinnerian radical behaviorism and related concepts.
Main Methods:
- Utilized event-related potential (ERP) techniques, specifically P3 and N400 effects.
- Analyzed data from semantic priming experiments.
- Correlated ERP measures with reaction time data.
Main Results:
- The P3 ERP effect is proposed as an index for covertly emitted operants.
- ERP data suggest operants remain sensitive to stimulus control even when latent (unemitted).
- The N400 effect, alongside reaction times, reflects changes in latent operant response strength.
Conclusions:
- The P3 effect offers experimental validation for Skinnerian radical behaviorism by indexing covert operants.
- The N400 effect supports Palmer's concept of the repertoire by measuring latent operant strength fluctuations.
- Neuroscientific methods can bridge the gap between behaviorism and internal cognitive processes.
