Temporal contingencies are dependent on space location: Distal and proximal concurrent water schedules

Two studies evaluated the effect of delivering water depending on lever-pressing in a proximal or distant location to the water-producing response. Effects were measured on the spatial distribution of behavior and on the frequency and patterning of lever pressing. In both experiments water was available under two concurrent, complementary fixed interval schedules in two dispensers located at opposite ends of the chamber. The proportion of water deliveries in one dispenser relative to the second dispenser varied between phases, while the overall frequency was kept constant. In one study rats received water from a dispenser proximal to the water producing response location, whereas in the second study rats received water in the dispenser at the opposite panel where the response was emitted. The number of obtained water deliveries varied according to the programmed proportion, but rats obtained fewer deliveries under the distal location contingency. No systematic variations on space allocation were observed in neither experiment. The results are discussed in terms of the importance of considering the continuous interaction of time and space parameters in the analysis of behavior.