Active versus passive control in sensory contingent bar pressing in rats

Previous studies have shown that sensory reinforcement in a causally structured environment can sustain relatively high levels of responding. In order to test the hypothesis that control of the environment has motivating/reinforcing properties, an experiment was conducted in which rats (N = 112) could exert control passively though withholding a response, as well as actively, and could maintain the status quo, as well as produce a change. It was found that rats did exert control passively, as well as activity, and did withhold responding to preserve the status quo, as well as to produce a sensory change.