Some acquisition and performance characteristics of response contingent sensory reinforcement in the rat
- 1 August 1970
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Australian Journal of Psychology
- Vol. 22 (2) , 145-154
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00049537008254568
Abstract
The lever pressing behaviour of two groups of hooded rats was studied, the first group received response contingent Light ON and the second received response contingent Light OFF. On a variety of measures, Light OFF stimulation was found to be more reinforcing than an equal period of Light ON. The Light ON and Light OFF groups could be distinguished with respect to the shape of their acquisition and performance curves. Sensory reinforcement of bar pressing was also investigated with a requirement of two responses for stimulus change, and when the onset or offset of light was controlled by the animal. An adequate explanation for the performance phase of sensory contingent bar pressing is that sensory change as such is reinforcing, provided that the stimulation parameters are appropriate.Keywords
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