Negative reinforcement of behavioral variability without previous training with positive reinforcement

Area of Science:

• Behavioral neuroscience
• Operant conditioning

Background:

• Previous research indicated avoidance contingencies control behavioral variability.
• Methodological limitations in prior studies included limited contingency reversals, use of positive reinforcement for shaping, and unequal reinforcement intermittency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address limitations of previous research on avoidance contingencies and behavioral variability.
• To investigate the control of behavioral variability by avoidance contingencies without prior positive reinforcement.

Main Methods:

• Three naive male rats were used, with no prior positive reinforcement history.
• Discrete trial avoidance contingencies (Lag 1 and Yoke) were employed with negative reinforcement.
• Reinforcement intermittency was equalized between Lag n and Yoke conditions.

Main Results:

• Rats exhibited high behavioral variability under the Lag 1 contingency.
• Rats showed decreased behavioral variability under the Yoke contingency.
• Results replicated previous findings, confirming avoidance contingency control over variability.

Conclusions:

• Behavioral variability is controllable by avoidance contingencies, even without prior positive reinforcement.
• High variability under Lag n conditions is an effect of operant contingency, not reinforcement intermittency.