Prospective factors contribute little to within-session changes in responding
F K McSweeney1, J N Weatherly, S Swindell
1Department of Psychology, Washington State University, 99164-4820, Pullman, WA.
Psychonomic Bulletin & Review
|November 9, 2013
Summary
Rats
Area of Science:
- Behavioral science
- Animal behavior
Background:
- Operant conditioning principles
- Variable interval schedules of reinforcement
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate within-session responding patterns in rats
- Examine the role of predictability in session duration on behavior
Main Methods:
- Utilized a multiple variable interval schedule
- Exposed rats to predictable and unpredictable session lengths
- Recorded lever-pressing rates for food reinforcement
Main Results:
- Response rates changed systematically within sessions regardless of predictability
- Within-session response patterns remained consistent between predictable and unpredictable conditions
Conclusions:
- Anticipation of session end is not required for within-session response changes
- Predictability of session duration has minimal impact on within-session response patterns
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