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Spatially extended instrumental responses are organized in functional bouts
Matthew Gildea1, Brissa Gutierrez1,2, Adeline Hibshman1
1Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|October 21, 2025
Summary
Instrumental behavior in rats is organized into response bouts, not simply due to proximity to the operandum. Key parameters like bout length and initiation rate are sensitive to experimental manipulations.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral neuroscience
- Animal behavior
Background:
- Instrumental behavior is often organized into bouts.
- Existing theories suggest spatial proximity to the operandum may explain this organization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the organization of spatially extended instrumental responses into bouts.
- To test if bout parameters are sensitive to critical manipulations.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments with rats were conducted, involving lever pressing under various reinforcement schedules and conditions.
- Manipulations included changing fixed-ratio (FR) requirements, reducing food restriction, and extinction.
Main Results:
- Responses were consistently organized into bouts regardless of the specific response topography.
- Increased FR requirements lengthened bouts, while response alternation reduced within-bout response rate.
- Bout initiation rates decreased with manipulations, reduced deprivation, and extinction.
Conclusions:
- The spatial proximity of operants does not solely explain the emergence of response bouts.
- Bout parameters are sensitive to reinforcement contingencies and motivational states, supporting distinct regulatory processes.
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