Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Machines: Problem Solving I01:22

Machines: Problem Solving I

836
A toggle clamp is a mechanical device commonly used for holding and clamping objects in various applications, such as woodworking, metalworking, and assembly operations. Consider a toggle clamp subjected to a force of 200 N at the handle. The vertical clamping force can be calculated, provided the dimensions of the toggle clamp are known.
The toggle clamp system is a machine structure consisting of movable, pin-connected multi-force members that form a stabilized system to transmit forces. The...
836
Design Example: Frog Muscle Response01:14

Design Example: Frog Muscle Response

777
A student is tasked to work on an intriguing experiment involving an RL (Resistor-Inductor) circuit to study the muscle response of a frog's leg to electrical stimulation. The RL circuit plays a crucial role in this experiment, providing the means to control and measure the electrical impulses that trigger muscle contraction.
When the switch connecting the RL circuit is closed, a brief muscle contraction is observed. This is because, at a steady state, the inductor acts like a short...
777
Motor Unit Stimulation01:20

Motor Unit Stimulation

4.7K
When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
4.7K
Power Expended by a Constant Force00:57

Power Expended by a Constant Force

7.8K
The relationship between work done and the time taken to do it can be explained using the concept of power. For example, several sprinters in a race may have the same velocity when they reach the finish line, therefore doing the same amount of work, but the winner does it in the least amount of time. Thus, power is defined as the rate of doing work. Since work can vary as a function of time, the average power is defined as the work done during a time interval, divided by the time interval.
7.8K
Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces01:13

Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces

2.7K
In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue. 
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
2.7K
Moment of a Force: Problem Solving01:29

Moment of a Force: Problem Solving

1.3K
Understanding the scalar formulation of the moment of a force and applying it correctly through problem-solving is crucial in designing and analyzing mechanical systems. Here are the steps for problem-solving with the moment of a force:
1.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Failure to find positive key-press contrast for milk reinforcers using a within-session procedure.

Behavioural processes·2014
Same author

The effect of food deprivation on within-session patterns of wheel running.

Behavioural processes·2014
Same author

Positive contrast as a function of component duration using a within-session procedure.

Behavioural processes·2014
Same author

Within-session responding when different reinforcers are delivered in each half of the session.

Behavioural processes·2014
Same author

Behavioral contrast using different reinforcers: effect of baseline rate of reinforcement.

Behavioural processes·2014
Same author

Previous- and following-component contrast effects using a three-component multiple schedule.

Behavioural processes·2014

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans
12:09

Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans

Published on: March 19, 2014

26.8K

Within-session responding as a function of force required for lever press.

C L Melville1, L R Rybiski, B Kamrani

  • 1Department of Psychology, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA 70609, USA.

Behavioural Processes
|June 5, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Lever-pressing behavior in rats was studied under varying force requirements. Results indicate that changes in lever force do not affect response patterns, challenging theories of muscle fatigue or warm-up.

More Related Videos

In vivo Measurement of Knee Extensor Muscle Function in Mice
08:29

In vivo Measurement of Knee Extensor Muscle Function in Mice

Published on: March 4, 2021

5.0K
Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
09:29

Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Published on: January 9, 2015

18.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans
12:09

Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans

Published on: March 19, 2014

26.8K
In vivo Measurement of Knee Extensor Muscle Function in Mice
08:29

In vivo Measurement of Knee Extensor Muscle Function in Mice

Published on: March 4, 2021

5.0K
Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
09:29

Signal Attenuation as a Rat Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Published on: January 9, 2015

18.6K

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral neuroscience
  • Animal behavior research
  • Operant conditioning

Background:

  • Within-session patterns of lever pressing are well-documented in operant conditioning studies.
  • Previous research has proposed muscle warm-up and fatigue as potential explanations for these patterns.
  • The role of physical exertion in shaping response patterns requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of varying lever force requirements on the within-session response patterns of rats.
  • To test the hypothesis that muscle warm-up and fatigue are primary drivers of within-session response variability.

Main Methods:

  • Four male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to press a lever for food rewards.
  • A multiple variable interval schedule of reinforcement was employed, with components alternating every 5 minutes.
  • The force required to activate the lever was systematically manipulated across several conditions (0.25, 0.15, 1.10, 0.75, and 0.50 N).

Main Results:

  • Changes in the required lever force did not produce significant alterations in the pattern of lever pressing within a session.
  • Response rates and patterns remained consistent across different force conditions.
  • No evidence was found to support a direct relationship between lever force and within-session response patterning.

Conclusions:

  • Muscle warm-up and fatigue are unlikely to be the sole or primary explanations for within-session patterns in lever-pressing behavior.
  • The findings suggest that other factors, potentially cognitive or motivational, may play a more significant role in shaping response patterns.
  • Further research should explore alternative mechanisms underlying the temporal distribution of responses in operant tasks.