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Updated: Apr 28, 2026

A Within-Subject Experimental Design using an Object Location Task in Rats
Published on: May 6, 2021
Positive contrast as a function of component duration using a within-session procedure
1Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4830, U.S.A.
Abstract:
Pigeons pecked keys for food reinforcers delivered by multiple schedules. Three experiments examined changes in the size of positive contrast with changes in component duration. They used a within-session procedure which measured rates of responding during the baseline and contrast phases within the same session. Contrast was largest for shorter components, a result similar to that found using traditional procedures. Therefore, the present results provide preliminary support for the use of the within-session procedure to study contrast. They also showed that the inverse relation between key-peck contrast and component duration is a robust finding which survives major changes in procedure. Finally, they suggest that different functions relate the size of contrast to component duration for key pecking and treadle pressing.
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