摘要:

Pigeons acquired discriminated key pecking between 528‐ and 540‐nm stimuli by either a response—reinforcer (operant group) or a stimulus—reinforcer (autoshaped group) contingency, with other training‐schedule parameters comparable over groups. For the birds in the operant group, key pecks intermittently produced grain in the presence of one hue on the key (positive stimulus) but not in the other (negative stimulus). For the birds in the autoshaped group, pecking emerged when grain was intermittently presented independently of key pecking during one key color but was not presented during the other key color. Two independent contingency assays, peck‐location comparisons and elimination of differences in reinforcement rate, confirmed the effectiveness of the two training procedures in establishing operant or respondent control of key pecking. After reaching a 10:1, or better, discrimination ratio between key pecks during the two key colors, the birds received a wavelength generalization test. Criterion baseline key‐peck rates were comparable for operant and autoshaped groups prior to testing. On the generalization test, performed in extinction, all birds pecked most at a stimulus removed from the positive training stimulus in the direction away from the negative stimulus. In testing, autoshaped “peak” rates (24.5 to 64.9 pecks per minute) were from 33% to 80% higher than rates in the presence of the training stimuli. Respondent peak shift rarely has been reported heretofore, and never this consistently and robustly. These results further confirm the similarity of perceptual processing in classical and operant learning. They are discussed in terms of Spence's gradient‐interaction theory and Weiss' (1978) two‐process mode

ISSN:0022-5002    

DOI:10.1901/jeab.1992.57-127

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

In each of two experiments, 2 pigeons received discrimination training in which food reinforcement for key pecking was conditional upon both spatial and temporal cues. In Experiment 1, food was available for periods of 30 s at each of three locations (pecking keys) during trials that lasted 90 s. In Experiment 2, food was available for periods of 15 min at each of four locations (pecking keys) during a 60‐min trial. In both experiments, pigeons' key pecking was jointly controlled by the spatial and temporal cues. These data, and other recent experiments, suggest that animals learn relationships between temporal and spatial cues that predict stable patterns of food availabilit

ISSN:0022-5002    

DOI:10.1901/jeab.1992.57-145

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Two sources of behavioral contrast have been identified previously: Pavlovian stimulus‐reinforcer relations and component sequence effects (anticipatory contrast). This study sought to isolate these sources of control procedurally in a four‐ply multiple schedule composed of two fixed two‐component sequences. Different cues were associated with the first component of each sequence, and contrast effects were studied in these target components. In Experiment 1, differential cuing of Component 2 between sequences and availability of reinforcement during target components were varied across three groups of pigeons; the stimulus‐reinforcer relation between target‐component cues and schedule of reinforcement in Component 2 was varied within subjects. Control by the Pavlovian relation was demonstrated under all conditions, and anticipatory contrast was not observed. In Experiment 2, target‐component duration was systematically varied in the three groups of Experiment 1. Control by the Pavlovian relation was reliably obtained only when target‐component behavior was unreinforced, and diminished with increases in component duration. Anticipatory contrast emerged in the two groups for which target‐component reinforcement was available. These and other data indicate that Pavlovian effects in multiple schedules may be obscured when the requisite conditions for anticipatory contr

ISSN:0022-5002    

DOI:10.1901/jeab.1992.57-159

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Five college students talked to an experimenter about various topics. Time spent looking at the experimenter was reinforced by verbal statements of praise and interest on five variable‐interval schedules. Herrnstein's hyperbola provided a good description of the time‐allocation data for 4 of the 5 subjects, and accounted for 95% of the variance of the median time‐allocation data. The hyperbola provided a significantly better description of the data than a two‐parameter ramp function with similar differential properties. Estimates of the asymptote, k, of the hyperbola varied among subjects from about 2 to about 15 seconds of eye contact per minute. These estimates were much smaller than the constant 60 seconds of eye contact per minute required by Herrnstein's matching theory. These results support the conclusion that Herrnstein's hyperbola describes naturalistic human behavior maintained by naturalistic social reinforcement as well as it describes the behavior of humans and nonhumans in typical laboratory preparations. The results also indicate that the hyperbolic form of the time‐allocation version of Herrnstein's equation is accurate, but that the constant k requirement of matching theory may

ISSN:0022-5002    

DOI:10.1901/jeab.1992.57-177

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Operant responses of 16 children (mean age 6 years and 1 month) were reinforced according to different fixed‐interval schedules (with interreinforcer intervals of 20, 30, or 40 s) in which the reinforcers were either 20‐s or 40‐s presentations of a cartoon. In another procedure, they received training on a self‐control paradigm in which both reinforcer delay (0.5 s or 40 s) and reinforcer duration (20 s or 40 s of cartoons) varied, and subjects were offered a choice between various combinations of delay and duration. Individual differences in behavior under the self‐control procedure were precisely mirrored by individual differences under the fixed‐interval schedule. Children who chose the smaller immediate reinforcer on the self‐control procedure (impulsive) produced short postreinforcement pauses and high response rates in the fixed‐interval conditions, and both measures changed little with changes in fixed‐interval value. Conversely, children who chose the larger delayed reinforcer in the self‐control condition (the self‐controlled subjects) exhibited lower response rates and long postreinforcement pauses, which changed systematically with changes in the interval, in their fixed

ISSN:0022-5002    

DOI:10.1901/jeab.1992.57-187

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Choice responding in adult humans on a discrete‐trial button‐pressing task was examined as a function of amount, delay, and overall density (points per unit time) of reinforcement. Reinforcement consisted of points that were exchangeable for money. In T 0 conditions, an impulsive response produced 4 points immediately and a self‐control response produced 10 points after a delay of 15 s. In T 15 conditions, a constant delay of 15 s was added to both prereinforcer delays. Postreinforcer delays, which consisted of 15 s added to the end of each impulsive trial, equated trial durations regardless of choice, and was manipulated in both T 0 and T 15 conditions. In all conditions, choice was predicted directly from the relative reinforcement densities of the alternatives. Self‐control was observed in all conditions except T 0 without postreinforcer delays, where the impulsive choices produced the higher reinforcement density. These results support previous studies showing that choice is a direct function of the relative reinforcement densities when conditioned (point) reinforcers are used. In contrast, where responding produces intrinsic (immediately consumable) reinforcers, immediacy of reinforcement appears to account for preference when density d

ISSN:0022-5002    

DOI:10.1901/jeab.1992.57-201

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

We developed a video system for real‐time detection of a pigeon's orientation and for reinforcement of a “turning response.” Using this system, negative behavioral contrast was found across key‐peck and turning responses. In addition, turning away from the pecking key was detected by the system just after presentation of the negative discriminative stimulus on the key. The results suggest that avoidance of the discriminative stimulus in the constant component, which has been regarded as a causal factor for negative contrast (additivity theory), is not the primary factor for negative behavioral contrast of pigeons' key pecking, but may account for negative local c

ISSN:0022-5002    

DOI:10.1901/jeab.1992.57-209

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Two rhesus monkeys were trained in a same/different task to discriminate digitized computer‐stored picture stimuli. The pictures were digitized from 35‐mm slides and presented in pairs on a computer monitor. The monkeys were required to touch the pictures and then make a choice response to indicate whether the pictures were identical or nonidentical. The response areas and stimuli were located to the sides of the picture stimuli. Responses were defined and monitored by an infrared matrix touch screen. After learning the same/different task, both monkeys showed performance accuracy with novel picture stimuli similar to that with training picture stimuli. This accurate novel‐picture transfer indicates that a same/different concept had been learned, a concept similar to the one they had previously demonstrated in a different apparatus with rear‐projected slide stimuli and a respons

ISSN:0022-5002    

DOI:10.1901/jeab.1992.57-219

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Sidman and his colleagues derived behavioral tests for stimulus equivalence from the axiom in logic and mathematics that defines a relation of equivalence. The analogy has generated abundant research in which match‐to‐sample methods have been used almost exclusively to study interesting and complex stimulus control phenomena. It has also stimulated considerable discussion regarding interpretation of the analogy and speculation as to its validity and generality. This article reexamines the Sidman stimulus equivalence analogy in the context of a broader consideration of the mathematical axiom than was included in the original presentation of the analogy and some of the data that have accumulated in the interim. We propose that (a) mathematical and behavioral examples of equivalence relations differ substantially, (b) terminology is being used in ways that can lead to erroneous conclusions about the nature of the stimulus control that develops in stimulus equivalence experiments, and (c) complete analyses of equivalence and other types of stimulus—stimulus relations require more than a simple invocation of the analogy. Implications of our analysis for resolving current issues and prompting new research are disc

ISSN:0022-5002    

DOI:10.1901/jeab.1992.57-227

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1992

数据来源: WILEY