Taste and consummatory activity in amount and gradient of reinforcement functions.

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Abstract
In two runway experiments the effects of jointly manipulating concentration of sucrose, volume per reinforcement, and amount of consummatory activity on starting and running speed were examined. Rate of acquisition and the terminal level of responding proved to be functions mainly of concentration and of number of pellets offered. The relatively minor effects of tube size occurred in the early training trials and those of volume per reinforcement in the terminal trials. It was concluded that variations in consummatory activity are neither necessary nor even sufficient conditions for producing variations in acquisition and performance. The implications of the fact that the terminal gradient of running was a negative one whose steepness was a function of concentration and amount were explored.