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Identification of olfactory stimuli as reinforcers in individuals with autism: a preliminary investigation
Author(s) -
Wilder David A.,
Schadler John,
Higbee Thomas S.,
Haymes Linda K.,
Bajagic Verdrana,
Register Martisa
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
behavioral interventions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.605
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1099-078X
pISSN - 1072-0847
DOI - 10.1002/bin.257
Subject(s) - psychology , preference , stimulus (psychology) , autism , olfaction , reinforcement , audiology , context (archaeology) , developmental psychology , olfactory perception , cognitive psychology , neuroscience , social psychology , paleontology , medicine , economics , biology , microeconomics
Preference for six olfactory stimuli was assessed via paired preference assessments with three adults with autism. Using a combination multielement and reversal design, a reinforcer assessment was then conducted to determine the extent to which three (high preference, medium preference, and low preference) of the six olfactory stimuli evaluated in the preference assessment functioned as reinforcers for responding in the context of a sorting task. Relative to baseline, all of the participants exhibited increased responding for access to their high preference olfactory stimulus. The utility of olfactory stimuli as components of behavior intervention plans is discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.