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1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Psychology, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3720, USA.
Behavioural Processes
|June 5, 2014
Summary
Pigeons exhibit a "scalloped" response pattern under fixed-interval schedules, pausing until near reinforcement time. This behavior is primarily driven by the reinforcement schedule, not external cycles.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral psychology
- Animal behavior studies
Background:
- Reinforcement schedules are fundamental to operant conditioning.
- The 'scalloped' pattern is a common observation in fixed-interval responding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the persistence of the 'scalloped' response pattern in pigeons under various fixed-interval (FI) and fixed-time (FT) schedules.
- To determine the influence of schedule parameters and signaling on response patterns.
- To assess the independence of response patterns from laboratory environmental cycles.
Main Methods:
- Pigeons were trained to peck a key for food reinforcement under different FI and FT schedules.
- Response patterns, including post-reinforcement pause duration, were recorded.
- Complex schedules involving added ratio contingencies and signaled reinforcement availability were examined.
Main Results:
- A 'scalloped' response pattern with significant pausing was observed, particularly for longer FI schedules (e.g., 12, 24, 36, 48 hours).
- Fixed-time (FT) 24-hour schedules resulted in continued but less frequent responding.
- Signaled FT schedules (5 min-3 h) increased responding during the signal (autoshaping) compared to longer FT schedules.
Conclusions:
- The 'scalloped' response pattern is robust and strongly controlled by the schedule of reinforcement, showing relative independence from external cycles.
- Schedule parameters significantly influence response rate and pausing.
- Signaling reinforcement availability can alter response patterns, inducing anticipatory behavior.
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