Effect of Unsignaled Delay of Reinforcement on Operant Conditioning in Pigeons

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  • ハトを用いたオペラント条件づけにおける信号のない強化遅延の効果の検討
  • ハト オ モチイタ オペラント ジョウケンズケ ニ オケル シンゴウ ノ ナイ キョウカ チエン ノ コウカ ノ ケントウ

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Abstract

Study objective:To investigate effects of an unsignaled delay in reinforcement on operant responses, after controlling reinforcement rates and inter-reinforcement intervals (IRIs). Design: Tandem VI x sec Fl y sec FT t sec schedule was used. This design enables control of reinforcement rates and inter-reinforcement intervals across conditions through adjusting x, y, and t. Setting: One-key operant boxes; hemp seeds were used as reinforcers. Subjects: 5 pigeons. Independent variables: In the tandem schedules, 6 values of reinforcement delay (t = 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 10 sec), and 2 values of the fixed component (y+t = 10 and 35 sec). The total of x+y+t was always 60 sec. Measures: Response rate, running rate, observed delay, and post-reinforcement pauses (PRPs). Results: (a) Reinforcement rates decreased as a negatively accelerated function of reinforcement delay, (b) Post-reinforcement pauses increased as reinforcement delays increased. (c) Post-reinforcement pauses and running rates tended to correspond to inter-reinforcement intervals even with reinforcement delay. Conclusion: Reinforcement rates decrease as a negatively accelerated function of reinforcement delay even when reinforcement rate and inter-reinforcement interval are controlled. Some suggestions are made regarding dynamic processes in reinforcement delay.

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