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BRIEF‐STIMULUS PRESENTATIONS ON MULTIFORM TANDEM SCHEDULES
Author(s) -
Reed Phil
Publication year - 1994
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.1994.61-417
Subject(s) - schedule , variable (mathematics) , stimulus (psychology) , mathematics , computer science , psychology , mathematical analysis , psychotherapist , operating system
Three experiments examined the influence of a brief stimulus (a light) on the behavior of food‐deprived rats whose lever pressing on tandem schedules comprising components of different schedule types resulted in food presentation. In Experiment 1, either a tandem variable‐ratio variable‐interval or a tandem variable‐interval variable‐ratio schedule was used. The variable‐interval requirement in the tandem variable‐ratio variable‐interval schedule was yoked to the time taken to complete the variable‐ratio component in the tandem variable‐interval variable‐ratio schedule, and the length of the variable‐interval component in the latter schedule was yoked to the variable‐ratio component in the former schedule. If a brief stimulus occurred following completion of the first component, then behavior was differentiated in the two components; subjects responded more quickly in the variable‐ratio than in the variable‐interval component. If the stimulus was removed, then response rate was determined by the nature of the final component. Similar results were obtained in Experiments 2 and 3 with the use of a three‐component tandem variable‐ratio variable‐interval variable‐ratio schedule or tandem variable‐interval variable‐ratio variable‐interval schedule. Thus, a brief stimulus that was not explicitly paired with reinforcement engendered behavior typical of the component schedule preceding its presentation.