A period of time-out from flickering light as a sensory reinforcer

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Abstract
A period of cessation of flickering light (darkness and light for 0.5 sec. intervals) was made contingent on the bar pressing of hooded rats. The cessation period consisted of either continuous darkness or continuous light, for 1.5, 3.0 or 6.0 sec. Cessation of flicker was reinforcing only if the “time‐out” period was continuous darkness. The notion that a discrepancy from any kind of stimulus adaptation level, with equal discrepancies being equally rewarding, is not entirely supported by the results. The direction of change is important in determining the effectiveness of a sensory change as a reinforcer. The results of a separate phase of the experiment demonstrated that this finding can not be accounted for by a greater preference for darkness versus flickering light than for continuous light versus flickering light. No preferences were exhibited.