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Escape from rich-to-lean transitions: Stimulus change and timeout
Billie J Retzlaff1, Elizabeth T P Parthum1, Raymond C Pitts1
1University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|January 13, 2017
Summary
Pigeons showed extended pausing during transitions to less rewarding conditions, suggesting this behavior is more than simple escape. This pausing was influenced by both past and upcoming reward sizes.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Animal Behavior
- Operant Conditioning
Background:
- Extended pausing in operant conditioning can indicate aversive stimulus properties.
- Pigeons' key pecking was maintained by schedules involving rich or lean reinforcers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if pausing during rich-to-lean transitions is solely escape behavior.
- To examine the control of pausing by past and upcoming reinforcer magnitudes.
Main Methods:
- Pigeons were exposed to multiple fixed-ratio schedules with varying reinforcer densities.
- An explicit escape mechanism (stimulus change or timeout) was introduced.
- Key pecking and pausing latencies were recorded.
Main Results:
- Pausing was most likely during rich-to-lean and second-most likely during lean-to-lean transitions.
- Despite an escape option, pigeons still paused before responding.
- Latencies to initiate fixed-ratio sequences remained extended during rich-to-lean transitions.
Conclusions:
- The stimulus associated with rich-to-lean transitions functions aversively.
- Pausing behavior during these transitions is complex and not solely explained by escape from the stimulus.
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