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USE OF PROGRESSIVE FIXED‐RATIO PROCEDURES IN THE ASSESSMENT OF INTRACRANIAL REINFORCEMENT 1
Author(s) -
Keesey Richard E.,
Goldstein Michael D.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
journal of the experimental analysis of behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1938-3711
pISSN - 0022-5002
DOI - 10.1901/jeab.1968.11-293
Subject(s) - reinforcement , schedule , stimulus (psychology) , stimulation , computer science , monotonic function , neuroscience , psychology , mathematics , social psychology , cognitive psychology , mathematical analysis , operating system
Six rats with electrodes chronically implanted in septal or hypothalamic sites were tested for intracranial reinforcement on a progressive fixed‐ratio schedule. Two variations of this schedule were also examined and compared. Functions relating the highest level of stable fixed‐ratio responding to a wide range of stimulus currents were, unlike those derived from continuous reinforcement rates, monotonic at all stimulation sites tested. One of the procedures described, in particular, is quite sensitive to intracranial reinforcement parameters, provides a reliable technique for within‐session assays of these parameters, and successfully avoids many problems commonly encountered with administration of central stimulation on a continuous reinforcement schedule.