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Published on: September 15, 2017
Percentile schedules to shape touchscreen response locations in cynomolgus macaques
Jennifer R Makar1, Nathaniel C Rice1, Todd M Myers1
1United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|July 29, 2026
Summary
Percentile schedules precisely controlled where nonhuman primates responded on a touchscreen. This method precisely shapes spatial operant behavior without visual cues, advancing learning studies.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral neuroscience
- Operant conditioning
- Primate cognition
Background:
- Response location is crucial for understanding functional outcomes in behavioral studies.
- Percentile schedules offer a dynamic mathematical approach to reinforcement learning.
- Previous research has not extensively explored percentile schedules in two-dimensional spatial tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of percentile schedules in controlling response locations on a two-dimensional plane.
- To assess the adaptability of percentile schedules for nonhuman primates using a touchscreen apparatus.
- To demonstrate the application of percentile schedules for shaping spatial operant behavior.
Main Methods:
- Five experiments utilized percentile schedules to differentially reinforce response locations on a touchscreen relative to an invisible target.
- Reinforcement criteria were dynamically adjusted based on response-to-target distances.
- Tasks involved minimizing or maximizing distances, handling separate horizontal/vertical deviations, and adapting to changing reinforcement criteria and novel target locations.
Main Results:
- Percentile schedules effectively controlled emitted response locations, selecting for shorter or longer distances from the target.
- The schedules demonstrated differential control over spatial responding, even without explicit stimulus cues.
- Behavioral adjustments were observed when reinforcement criteria were altered mid-session or when target locations changed.
Conclusions:
- Percentile schedule contingencies provide precise control over operant response locations in a two-dimensional space.
- This approach is effective for nonhuman primates and touchscreen-based tasks, expanding the utility of percentile schedules.
- The findings have significant implications for behavioral shaping, spatial learning research, and understanding the spatial dimensions of operant behavior.
