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BIASING THE PACEMAKER IN THE BEHAVIORAL THEORY OF TIMING
Author(s) -
Bizo Lewis A.,
White K. Geoffrey
Publication year - 1995
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.1995.64-225
Subject(s) - reinforcement , differential reinforcement , operant conditioning , key (lock) , psychology , schedule , differential (mechanical device) , statistics , audiology , mathematics , social psychology , medicine , computer science , computer security , engineering , aerospace engineering , operating system
In the behavioral theory of timing, pacemaker rate is determined by overall rate of reinforcement. A two‐alternative free‐operant psychophysical procedure was employed to investigate whether pacemaker period was also sensitive to the differential rate of reinforcement. Responding on a left key during the first 25 s and on a right key during the second 25 s of a 50‐s trial was reinforced at variable intervals, and variable‐interval schedule values during the two halves of the trials were varied systematically. Responding on the right key during the first 25 s and on the left key during the second 25 s was not reinforced. Estimates of pacemaker period were derived from fits of a function predicted by the behavioral theory of timing to right‐key response proportions in consecutive 5‐s bins of the 50‐s trial. Estimates of pacemaker period were shortest when the differential reinforcer rate most strongly favored right‐key responses, and were longest when the differential reinforcer rate most strongly favored left‐key responses. The results were consistent with the conclusion that pacemaker rate is influenced by relative reinforcer rate.