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Pausing as an operant: choice and discriminated responding.
Andrew R Craig1, Kennon A Lattal, Ezra G Hall
1West Virginia University.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|January 18, 2014
Summary
This study shows that pausing behavior in pigeons is controlled by reinforcement schedules, similar to key pecking. Signaled reinforcement for pausing reduced the time pigeons spent pausing.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral science
- Animal behavior
- Operant conditioning
Background:
- Intermittent reinforcement schedules influence behavior.
- Pausing is a behavior that can be studied in operant conditioning paradigms.
- Understanding factors controlling pausing is important for behavioral analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of intermittent reinforcement schedules on pausing behavior in pigeons.
- To examine the role of antecedent events in controlling pausing.
- To determine if pausing functions as an operant similar to discrete responses like key pecking.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted using pigeons.
- Experiment 1 used concurrent variable-interval (VI) and differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior (DRO) schedules.
- Experiment 2 employed a multiple schedule with signaled reinforcement for pausing.
Main Results:
- Time spent pausing was proportional to reinforcement rates in Experiment 1.
- Signaled reinforcement for pausing decreased pausing duration compared to uncorrelated signals in Experiment 2.
- These findings align with previous research on signaled reinforcement for key pecking.
Conclusions:
- Pausing functions as an operant, akin to discrete responses like key pecks.
- Both antecedent and consequent events similarly affect pausing and other operants.
- Reinforcement schedules and signaling play a crucial role in modulating pausing behavior.
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