Persistence and relapse of reinforced behavioral variability

Area of Science:

• Behavioral science
• Animal behavior
• Operant conditioning

Background:

• Behavioral variability is a fundamental aspect of operant behavior.
• Understanding the persistence and relapse of behavioral variability is crucial for behavioral science.
• Previous research has explored factors influencing response variability, but its persistence and relapse under various conditions require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the persistence and relapse of reinforced behavioral variability in pigeons.
• To investigate the effects of extinction, reinstatement, and resurgence on behavioral variability.
• To determine if behavioral variability is an operant dimension of behavior that can be maintained and re-established.

Main Methods:

• Pigeons were trained to emit four-response sequences for food reinforcement based on a lag schedule.
• Experiments involved multiple schedules with extinction, yoked conditions, response-independent food delivery (reinstatement), and suspension of alternative reinforcement (resurgence).
• Behavioral variability was measured by the degree to which response sequences differed from previous sequences.

Main Results:

• In extinction, behavioral variability decreased only in the component where reinforcement was removed.
• Following reinstatement, behavioral variability returned to baseline levels in both components.
• Resurgence of behavioral variability was observed when alternative reinforcement was suspended.

Conclusions:

• Behavioral variability can persist even when reinforcement is withdrawn.
• Variability is an operant dimension of behavior that can be re-established through reinstatement and resurgence.
• The findings contribute to understanding the dynamics of behavioral variability in operant conditioning.