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| #408 Poster Session – EAB |
| Monday, May 31, 2004 |
| 5:30 PM–7:00 PM |
| Exhibit Hall D (Hynes) |
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| 84. Examining the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR) as an Animal Model of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): An Analysis ofConditioned Reinforcement Using an Observing Procedure |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| MELISSA SHULLEETA (James Madison University), Sherry L. Serdikoff (James Madison University), Erin J. Pitts (James Madison University), A. Charles Catania (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) |
| Abstract: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), estimated to affect 3 to 5 percent of school-age children, includes among its core symptoms an inability to concentrate and to sustain attention. Recent research suggests that these symptoms may result from an altered reinforcement mechanism characterized by shorter and steeper delay-of-reinforcement gradients. Given that the ability of discriminative stimuli (SD’s) to effectively control behavior is inversely related to the delay between the onset of the SD’s and reinforcers that follow them, it follows from this view that individuals with steeper, shorter gradients will exhibit deficits in stimulus control. The current study investigates this possibility in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), an animal model of ADHD. SHRs and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKYs) are trained to press one lever under a mixed extinction and fixed-interval schedule of reinforcement while responses on a second lever (observing responses) produce discriminative stimuli differentially associated with the current conditions on the first lever. To the extent that rate of observing decreases more rapidly in SHR than in WKY rats as the duration of the fixed interval increases, these data provide additional evidence for SHR as an animal model of ADHD and for the altered reinforcement mechanism view of the disorder. |
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| 85. The Generality of Learned Helplessness Between Aversive and Appetitive Contexts |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| MARIA HELENA HUNZIKER (Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil), Angelica Capelari (Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil) |
| Abstract: Learned Helplessness is the difficulty to learn an escape response after exposition to aversive, uncontrollable stimuli. Two experiments were conducted to investigate whether this difficulty to learn could be generalized between appetitive and aversive contexts. In each experiment three groups of rats were used: contingent (C), non-contingent (NC) and control (I). In Experiment 1, during treatment, electric shocks were delivered and could be interrupted when the animal of group C emitted a response. The subjects of group NC were yoked to group C. The subjects of group I were kept in their home cages. During test, all subjects were exposed to a multiple/concurrent schedule with positive reinforcement. Groups C and NC differed from group I only in the first session without group differences in the final sessions. In Experiment 2, treatment consisted of positive reinforcement for subjects of group C. The subjects of group NC were yoked to group C. The subjects of group I were kept in their home cages. Afterwards, all subjects were exposed to a escape test. All subjects learned to escape. The results didn’t show evidence of helplessness in neither experiment and suggest that the experience with non contingent stimuli cannot be generalized to different contexts. |
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| 86. The Effects of Time-Correlated Behavior on Responding Under a Peak-Interval Trials Procedure |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| DAPHNA EL-ROY (Queens College, City University of New York), Nancy S. Hemmes (Queens College, City University of New York), Bruce L. Brown (Queens College, City University of New York) |
| Abstract: Adults’ performance under Fixed-Interval (FI) reinforcement schedules has been hypothesized to be affected by self-generated counting or similar time-correlated behavior. In this study, undergraduate Psychology students espoused to an FI 15 s LH 30 s schedule for typing win on a computer keyboard, were concurrently required to pronounce three-digit numbers that appeared on a computer screen. Under one condition, the numbers appeared in sequential order to resemble counting; in another condition number order was random to potentially interfere with counting. Unreinforced 45 s probe trials were interspersed among FI trials, under a Peak-Intervals (PI) trials procedure. Probe trials allowed for the examination of performance before and after the FI value elapsed. Results of a prior study (El-Roy, Hemmes & Brown, 2003) suggested that the cumulative number of numbers in a trial, rather than elapsed duration, controlled participants’ performance. To permit dissociation of control of responding by these two variables, the rate of number stimuli presentation (.67 or .44 numbers per second) was manipulated. Control by number of seconds was suggested in two of ten participants’ data. Control by number of numbers was suggested in three participants’ data. The source of control was unclear in the data of five participants. |
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| 87. Social Comparison in the Prisoner's Dilemma |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| BRYAN K. SAVILLE (Stephen F. Austin State University), Candice Holcomb (Stephen F. Austin State University), Kristen Howell (Stephen F. Austin State University) |
| Abstract: The Prisoner’s Dilemma (PD) is a non-zero-sum game in which participants have the opportunity either to “cooperate” or “defect.” In most versions of the PD, participants typically defect because it maximizes outcomes on any single trial, although cooperation often increases with repeated trials. In the present study, we examined the extent to which social comparison affected cooperative behavior in an iterated PD. Participants first played 50 trials of the PD, during which they were able to view their score, as well as the score of a confederate who followed a tit-for-tat strategy. Participants then played another 50 trials, but only some of them saw both scores; the remaining participants saw their current score along with their score from the first 50 trials. Participants who viewed their own score during the second 50 trials cooperated significantly more than participants who saw the confederate’s score. Our results suggest that the presence of another participant’s score during PD games may set the occasion for defection, whereas the absence of that score may evoke more cooperative behavior. These results support earlier studies on choice social behavior, which suggested that social comparison may affect cooperation. |
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| 88. Conditional Relations with Compound Stimulus |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| PAULA DEBERT (Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil), Maria José Matos de Souza Suza (Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil) |
| Abstract: Several studies with infrahumans failed to produce emergent relations, when using MTS. In spite of having suffered some criticisms (Carter & Werner, 1978), Zentall and Hogan’s (1975) study seemed to have generated identity control, in pigeons, using pairs of stimuli presented in a sectioned key (go-no/go procedure). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the kind of control (simple or conditional) that would be established in a procedure similar to Zentall and Hogan’s using arbitrary compound stimulus. An evaluation of the potential of that procedure was conducted with four adults. Responses emitted in the presence of certain stimuli pairs (A1B1, A2B2, A3B3, B1C1, B2C2 and B3C3) were reinforced; while responses emitted in the presence of others (A1B2, A1B3, A2B1, A2B3, A3B1, A3B2, B1C2, B1C3, B2C1, B2C3, B3C1 and B3C2) were not. During tests, new configurations (BA, CB, AC, and CA) were presented resembling tests usually employed in equivalence studies. All participants took from three to six sessions to reach accurate training performances, showed immediate emergence of symmetry relations, and revealed immediate or gradual emergence of tested relations. A procedure similar to Zentall and Hogan’s can establish conditional emergent relations and, therefore, it may configure as an alternative procedure. |
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| 89. Effect of Combinations of Contingent and Non-contingent Signals During Delay Interval on Response Acquisition |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| MARCO A. PULIDO (Intercontinental University, Mexico), Nuria Lanzagorta Pnol (Universidad Iberoamericanca), Marcelo Perez (Intercontinental University, Mexico), Rogelio Quintanar (Intercontinental University, Mexico), Mariana Rubi Gnzalez (Intercontinental University, Mexico) |
| Abstract: Response produced signals located at the beginning of the delay interval and followed by a non-contingent signal immediately preceding reinforcement facilitate response acquisition. The purpose of the present study was to determine if different combinations of contingent and non-contingent signals could replicate this effect. Twenty seven naive rats were exposed to one of nine different 32-s temporally defined schedules of signaled delayed reinforcement. Schedules differed in either: 1. type of signal combination, 2. temporal separation between the signals, or 3. temporal separation between the signal and the reinforcer. Response acquisition was faster when subjects received two contingent signals occuring in close proximity to the reinforcer. Results suggest response-reinforcer proximity, rather than memory reinstatement, accounts for the signals facilitative effects. |
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| 90. Spatial Working Memory in Hamsters (Mesocricetus Auratus) |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| FRANCOIS TONNEAU (University of Guadalajara, Mexico), Felipe Cabrera (University of Guadalajara, Mexico) |
| Abstract: The study of spatial memory in animals has generally consisted of analyzing performance in radial-arm mazes. The data often reveal win-shift strategies whereby the animals avoid returning to the arms of the maze where food was recently obtained and consumed. In this experiment, we studied spatial memory with four hamsters as subjects and an open field instead of a radial-arm maze. Bits of food were placed at the top of five poles aligned on a 1.20-m x 1.20-m platform. At the start of each trial, the hamster was placed in front of the series of five poles. Once the hamster visited one of the poles, the animal was returned to the starting place. Trials consisted of ten successive choice opportunities or five correct choices in succession, whichever came first. The delay between successive opportunities was varied across values of 0, 30, or 60 s. Consistent with working memory data, as delay increased, the number of returns to previously visited poles increased; also, the probability of a correct visit decreased across the first five choice opportunities. |
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| 91. Finding Induction Rather than Contrast in an Anticipatory-contrast Procedure |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| BRENT C. HANSON (University of North Dakota), Jeri Nurnberger (University of North Dakota), Jeffrey N. Weatherly (University of North Dakota) |
| Abstract: Rats typically decrease their intake of a low-valued substance if a high-valued substance will soon be available for consumption. This effect, known as anticipatory contrast, is a reliable finding. However, it has typically been studied under procedures that either present the different substances in different locations or change the consummatory stimulus (i.e., present different bottles of fluid) when using the same location. The present experiment attempted to determine whether rats would display a negative contrast effect when both the low- (1% liquid sucrose) and high-valued (32% liquid sucrose) substances were consumed from the same spout. Results showed that the opposite effect, positive induction, was most commonly observed. Motivational (i.e., no food deprivation) and discriminatory factors (i.e., temporally separating the different periods of access, providing salient discriminative stimuli between the periods) had to be altered before consumption even trended toward anticipatory contrast. Contrast was immediately observed when the location of delivery of the different substances were separated. These results indicate that the appearance of anticipatory contrast depends largely on where the substances are delivered. They also shed light on the growing body of research on induction effects. |
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| 92. Does Deflation Change the Subjective Discount Rate?: The Effects of Inflation and Interest Rates on Delay-Discounting |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| KENTARO KAWASHIMA (Waseda University) |
| Abstract: Interest and inflation rates are major possible determinants of delay discounting, but these variables could not be controlled experimentally because they depend on economic conditions.This study investigates the effects of inflation and interest rates on humans’ subjective value of delayed rewards, using a computer-simulation task. In this task, participants could save virtual money, receive interest, and buy items during the game period. The experimenter could control the inflation and interest rates. After the participants learned of the item price change and expected interest, the subjective values of delayed rewards were measured during the choice period.Three different combinations of nominal interest and inflation rates were used as experimental conditions (inflationary, zero-inflationary, and deflationary conditions). The real interest rate (nominal interest rate minus inflation rate) was the same across the three conditions. A 3 (interest-inflation) x 5 (delay) ANOVA showed a significant main effect of interest-inflation, F(2, 154) = 12.36, p<.01, a significant main effect of delay, F(4, 154) = 23.23, p<.01. The hyperbolic function was fitted to the subjective value of delayed rewards, and showed the discount rate under deflationary condition was smaller than other conditions. These results suggest that interest and inflation rates affect participants’ subjective discount rate. |
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| 93. Varying the Changeover Response Requirement in Dynamic Reinforcing Environments |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| JORGE ARTURO BALDERRAMA TRAPAGA (University of Veracruz, Mexico), Carlos F. Aparicio (University of Guadalajara, Mexico) |
| Abstract: Sensitivity to dynamic changes in reinforcement can be observed in the absence of steady state concurrent performance. We tested this idea with rats in a variable reinforcing environment where the number of responses required to alternate between two levers was varied randomly and without replacement. One of seven reinforcement ratios (27:1, 9:1, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, 1:9, 1:27) was selected to provide 50 dependently scheduled reinforcers in two levers. First, with each component five changeover requirements (1, 4, 8, 16 or 32 responses) were scheduled within sessions, a different one every 10 reinforcers. Later, the same changeover requirement remained in effect for 21 days before a different one replaced it. When all changeover requirements were assessed across components, the rats returned to the initial condition. The results were consistent with data of previous research; response distributions favored the lever associated with the highest probability of reinforcement. Sensibility to reinforcement, as estimated by the parameter s of the generalized matching law, increased with increasing changeover response requirement. The role of experience in dynamic environments will be discussed. |
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| 94. Identifying Slot Machine Variables that Increase Response Rate and Wager Magnitude |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| DANIEL MARK FIENUP (Southern Illinois University), Mark R. Dixon (Southern Illinois University) |
| Abstract: A behavioral understanding of gambling is relatively new, and the specific characteristics of slot machines that promote excessive gambling are unknown. Therefore the present experiment attempted to examine the degree to which a “credit” button on a slot machine would increase rate of play by novice participants when compared to manual coin insertions. All participants played a slot machine for course extra-credit in a casino laboratory. Participants were exposed to two different conditions, one whereby all available wagers (i.e., coins) were physically given to person and they were instructed to play 1 to 3 coins per spin, and that increasing the number of coins played would proportionally increase their magnitude of payoff. The other experimental condition required all participants to select the number of coins they wished to play per spin from a credit button located on slot machine. Results suggest that from spin-to-spin, participants played faster and wagered more coins during the credit condition than during the manual coin insertion condition. These data suggest that a simple mechanical modification to a slot machine may result in significant changes in players’ behavior. The implications for treating problem gamblers from a behavioral perspective are also highlighted. |
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| 95. The Determinants of Resistance to Change: Stimulus-Reinforcer Relations vs. Effects Related to Behavioral Contrast |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| E. TERRY MUELLER (Temple University), Philip N. Hineline (Temple University) |
| Abstract: This research used the behavioral momentum paradigm, wherein trained multiple schedule performances are equally subjected to stressors in a test phase of the procedure, and response rate measures of the component test phase performances are compared to their pre-stressor (training) baselines. In experiment 1, three VI schedule performances were trained in separate components of a three-component multiple schedule. But in the test phase, these performances were evoked in a two-component multiple schedule, which was enabled by juxtaposing two target schedules in a concurrent schedule component. The resistance to change of these target performances was compared to that of a single schedule component, which during training received the same frequency of reinforcement as the target schedules combined. In experiment 2, a two-component multiple schedule presented equal frequencies of reinforcement in both training components. However, while one component trained a single performance, the other component posed a concurrent schedule with two different VI schedules. These two experimental procedures resulted in test phases for which predictions about the ordering of performances’ magnitudes of resistance to change differed, depending upon whether they were derived from the phenomena of behavioral contrast and extinction-induced resurgence, or from Behavioral Momentum Theory. |
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| 96. Schedule-Induced Polydipsia (SIP): Correspondences Between SIP in Rats and Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior in Humans |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| JANET L. PIETROWSKI (Eastern Michigan University), James T. Todd (Eastern Michigan University) |
| Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine if schedule-induced polydipsia (SIP) could serve as an animal model of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in humans. Four female Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained at 75-80% of free-feeding weight and exposed to a variety of fixed-time schedules on a Graham-Gagne raised runway. The distance between food and water was varied along with the reinforcement schedule to determine the effects of vrying distance and inter-reinforcement time on drinking. This was done to simulate the effects of varying time constraints and effort on a compulsive response. Overall water consumption, eat-drink latency, duration of drinking, and probability of drinking were measured. Duration and latency were affected by the fixed-time schedule but not by distance between food and water. Though SIP weakened under some conditions, it did not extinguish even with very short fixed-time intervals and longer distances. The dimensions of the SIP can be modulated, but the responding itself remained robust. It appears that SIP is a compulsive behavior. This study indicates that future research linking SIP and OCD is warranted. |
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| 97. Latent Inhibition with Familiar Tastes in Conditioned Taste Aversion |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| J.C. PEDRO ARRIAGA-RAMIREZ (UNAM FES Iztacala), Guadalupe Ortega-Saavedra (SEP) |
| Abstract: Six groups of 12 rats each one were exposed to different preexposure conditions. Group 1 was preexposed to NPT diet, a mixture made of cornstarch, calcium casein, vegetable oil, mineral-vitamins mix, and cod liver oil. Group 2 was preexposed to NPT with almond scent and yellow dye. Group 3 was peexposed to NPT with almond and blue dye. Group 4 was preexposed to NPT plus vanilla scent and yellow dye. Group 5 was preexposed to NPT plus almond. Group 6 was preexposed to NPT with almond and NPT with yellow dye on alternate days. On conditioning day Groups 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 received NPT mixed with almond and blue dye. Group 3 received NPT plus almond and yellow dye. After 20 min of eating this mixture rats were immediately injected with a 1% LiCl solution in a dose of 0.75% of body weight, ip. Different types of preexposure for groups produced familiar, double familiar or novel experiences for color or taste. Groups with double familiar experience with taste reduced generalization of aversion in a way consistent with an analysis in terms of latent inhibition of common elements. Difference between groups was not statistically significant. |
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| 98. Psychological Time: The Effect of Manipulating Reinforcement Rate upon the Human Estimation of Duration |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| SIMON WEBBER (University of Waikato, New Zealand), Therese Mary Foster (University of Waikato, New Zealand), James McEwan (University of Waikato, New Zealand), Catherine E. Sumpter (University of Waikato, New Zealand) |
| Abstract: This research topic investigates the human perception of time, the overestimation or underestimation of duration or what has commonly been called 'psychological time' as a function of manipulating reinforcement rate. Killeen and Fetterman’s (1988) behavioral theory of timing suggests that the rate of reinforcement, how often reinforcement is received by an organism, drives the speed of an internal pacemaker, a hypothesized regulator within the organism, which governs an organism’s perception of time passing. Animal research has shown that estimates of duration do indeed vary as a function of manipulating reinforcement rate (Bizo & White, 1995a; Bizo & White, 1994a; Bizo & White, 1994b; Fetterman & Killeen, 1991; Morgan, Killeen & Fetterman, 1993). This research looks at how psychological time in humans is effected by manipulating reinforcement rate using jigsaw puzzles. In a within-subjects design, participants had to do computer-generated jigsaw puzzles, which incorporated delays between the movements of each subsequent jigsaw piece. This had the effect of reducing the number of pieces that could be moved within a session, thereby manipulating the reinforcement rate (in this experimental context, a reinforcer is successfully moving a jigsaw puzzle piece). The results from the last series of experiments are presented. |
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| 99. Observing in Pigeons Under Concurrent Schedules of Reinforcement |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| DANIEL HEHLI (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire), Mikhail Koffarnus (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire), Michael Paul (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire), Ryan R. Rowe (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire), Gregory J. Madden (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire) |
| Abstract: According to Herrnstein's (1970) matching law, organisms will allocate their behavior proportional to the amount of reinforcement obtained on each alternative under concurrent schedules of reinforcement. Research has shown that humans only conform to the matching law when they are required to report the key in which reinforcement was earned. The attempt of the current study was to try to replicate what has been observed with human subjects, in that matching only occurs when the schedule correlated stimuli are observed. White carneaux pigeons served as subjects for this study. The experiment consisted of two phases, one in which the pigeons were given the schedule correlated stimuli for free (they did not have to peck any keys) and one in which they had to peck the center key in order to illuminate the stimuli for 10 seconds. Results indicated that pigeons that “observed” the stimuli, by pecking the center key or when given the schedule correlated stimuli freely, more closely conformed to the matching law than those that did not observe the stimuli. These results support the conclusion that the observing schedule correlated stimuli is an important variable in determining the extent to which organisms will conform to Herrnstein’s matching law. |
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| 100. An Examination of the Reinforcing Properties of the Near Miss in Video Poker |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| DANIEL GARCIA (University of Northern Iowa), Dustin Daugherty (University of Northern Iowa), Scott Shaw (University of Northern Iowa), Otto H. Maclin (University of Northern Iowa) |
| Abstract: The current research examined the near miss phenomena, or a near win hand, and whether that hand is reinforcing. The software used was created by Mark R. Dixon, Otto MacLin, and Linda J. Hayes (1999) and can be used on most Microsoft Windows operating systems. Participants were allowed to wager a bet twice during each hand, once before they were shown any cards, and again before the draw phase. It was hypothesized that if a near miss hand is reinforcing, participants should bet the same during the second draw phase regardless of past history with the near miss hands (i.e. near flushes always lose and near straights always win). However, if a hand is not reinforcing, then there should be a distinction between betting patterns for the near hands (i.e. participants should always bet more with a near straight and never bet more with a near flush). |
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| 102. The Acquisition of Absolute and Relational Stimulus Control in Humans |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| ADAM DERENNE (University of North Dakota) |
| Abstract: Humans are capable of responding to stimuli either on the basis of the absolute physical characteristics of each one (absolute stimulus control) or on the basis of the relative differences between stimuli (relational stimulus control). However, little is known about the factors that lead to the development of one type of stimulus control over another. In three experiments, the roles played by the following factors were investigated: the method of presenting the stimuli during acquisition, the number of positive and negative stimuli used during training, and the method of presenting the stimuli during a discrimination test. The results showed that subjects acquired the ability to respond on both an absolute and relational basis. Absolute control predominated when stimuli were presented on a successive basis during either acquisition or test phases; relational control predominated when stimuli were presented on a simultaneous basis or when multiple positive stimuli were used during training. |
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| 103. Percentile Reinforcement of Long Interresponse Times in Humans: Molar Versus Molecular Control of Responding |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| ERIC A. JACOBS (Southern Illinois University Carbondale), Joshua Beckmann (Southern Illinois University Carbondale), Jose L. Martinez (Southern Illinois University Carbondale) |
| Abstract: Sensitivity to consequences arrayed over short and extended time scales was assessed using a percentile schedule that juxtaposed local contingencies of reinforcement with overall reinforcement rate maximization. Percentile reinforcement of long IRTs increases interreinforcement intervals, thereby decreasing overall reinforcement rate. Four adults participated in three sessions during which they watched movies that were subject to brief, random disruption. Lever pressing produced disruption-free viewing periods. In two sessions, disruption-free periods occurred following any IRT that was longer than 15 of the previous 20 IRTs. In the third session, disruption-free periods were arranged by a yoked random-ratio schedule for the first half of the session, followed by a return to the percentile schedule. Three participants displayed initial sensitivity to the IRT contingencies, as evidenced by increases in average IRT and decreases in overall reinforcement rate. For one of these subjects, the initial sensitivity gave way to high rate responding. Two subjects, however, continued to respond at low to moderate rates throughout the initial percentile schedule condition. Upon exposure to the random ratio schedule, response rates for one of these subjects increased substantially and remained elevated throughout the final percentile condition. The fourth subject responded at high rates throughout all conditions. The results provide evidence for control by consequences arrayed over short and long time spans, individual differences in sensitivity to each, and a role for history of reinforcement in determining those differences. |
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| 104. Conditional and Simple Discriminations: Implications on Non-trained Stimuli Relations Emergency in Humans |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| MARCIO MOREIRA (Pontifical Catholic University of Goias, Brazil), Cristiano Coelho (Pontifical Catholic University of Goias, Brazil) |
| Abstract: The purpose of the present work was to verify if non-trained arbitrary stimuli relations could emerge after a simultaneous simples discrimination training procedure (SSDT). Two experiments were designed, using human subjects and a computer software. In Experiment 1 sixteen subjects were exposed to a conditional discrimination training (CDT) and to a SSDT, with different stimuli, and, after each training procedure, tested in symmetry, transitivity and equivalence relations. In Experiment 2 six subjects were exposed to the SSDT once, and then, if they had not achieved a 65% index of correct responses in any test, they were exposed again to the same procedures with the same stimuli. In both experiments three classes of stimuli were used. The CDT and all tests were done using matching-to-sample procedure (arbitrary matching) with a model and three comparisons. The results indicate that: a) matching-to-sample training procedure was neither necessary nor sufficient for the emergency of non-direct trained relations between stimuli; b) these relations may emerge after a SSDT; c) CDT, in this experiment, produced more emergency of relations than the SSDT; d) Time elapsed between discriminative training and symmetry test influenced the subjects’ performance; and e) re-exposure to SSDT improves the performance in tests. |
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| 105. Training Structure, Naming, and Typicality Effects in Equivalence Class Formation |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| JEANETTE E. WILSON (University of North Carolina at Wilmington), Carol Pilgrim (University of North Carolina at Wilmington), Mark Galizio (University of North Carolina at Wilmington), Maureen Theresa Aro (University of North Carolina at Wilmington), Natalie B. Jacome (University of North Carolina at Wilmington) |
| Abstract: While equivalence is a well-documented phenomenon, its basis is of considerable debate. The current experiment looks at the effects of naming, training structure, and typicality effects in the acquisition of conditional discriminations and equivalence-class formation. Children ages 4-10 years learned 8 baseline conditional discriminations involving stimuli with 1, 2, 3, or 4 class-relevant features. The children were divided into 4 groups, which received match-to-sample (MTS) training with different training structures. These structures include the many-to-one with a trigram as node, a one-to-many with trigram as node and a many-to-one with a 2-feature stimulus as the node. Older children (7-10 year olds) showed typicality effects such as quicker response times and fewer errors involving stimuli that have more relevant features, both in the baseline conditional discrimination training and in equivalence-class performance; younger children (under the age of 7 years) did not show these effects. The data so far show that training structure makes no difference in the acquisition of conditional discriminations or equivalence-class formation. Results to date imply that naming may not be necessary or sufficient for equivalence performance to occur. Data will also be presented on naming, training structure and the use of different stimulus sets. |
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| 106. Equivalence Relations in a Yes/no Task: Mapping the Procedural Terrain |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| MARGARET H. B. JAJICH (Northern Michigan University), Paul Thomas Andronis (Northern Michigan University) |
| Abstract: Participants learned through trial and error in our novel, free-operant procedure to assign pairs of arbitrarily matched abstract symbols (Alspaugh, 1992) to "red" or "green" desktop locations. Pairs were drawn from three sets (A, B, & C) of three stimuli each (1, 2, & 3). Eight college student participants first learned to sort pairings between set A and set B (A1 with B1, A2 with B2, and so on), then learned similar A to C pairings. Large red or green dots on the back of each card provided immediate accuracy feedback for each card sort. Verbal instructions were deliberately limited to "Sort red cards on red, and green cards on green" to eliminate the possibility of unintended instructional control. The experiment concluded with unreinforced testing of baseline relations (trained AB & AC pairings), mixtures of baseline & probe (BC) pairs, and probe pairs alone, with and without new "distractor" symbols. Symmetry and transitivity of emergent conditional relations were taken as evidence of equivalence, as defined by Sidman. Data were recorded on standard celeration charts and analyzed in ROC space as a function of testing condition. Forcing variation in the testing context through discontinuous mapping did not increase the probability of transitive performances. |
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| 107. Pausing in the Transitions between Rich and Lean Fixed-Ratios: Effects of Cue Accuracy and Food Deprivation |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| TAMMY WADE (West Virginia University), Chad M. Galuska (University of Michigan), Michael Perone (West Virginia University) |
| Abstract: Transitions from rich schedules to lean schedules produce extended pausing in operant behavior. In search of variables that might reduce such maladaptive pausing, we studied the accuracy of cues for upcoming reinforcer magnitudes and food-deprivation. Pigeons responded on a multiple schedule in which fixed-ratio components differed in reinforcer magnitude. In Experiment 1, the accuracy of the cue signaling the lean reinforcer was degraded by occasionally delivering rich reinforcers when the signaled transition was rich-to-lean. This manipulation failed to reduce pausing. In fact, extended pausing was observed in the rich-to-lean transitions even for pigeons whose only experience was with fully degraded lean cues (accuracy of the lean cue during rich-to-lean transitions was 50%). In Experiment 2, pigeons’ body weights were varied from 70% to 90% of free-feeding weight across conditions. No systematic effects on pausing were observed, although for 2 of the 3 birds pause durations were longest in the condition imposing the least food restriction. The results are interpreted in terms of response strength: Pausing during negative shifts in reinforcement context appears to be highly resistant to change. |
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| 108. The Effects of Preferred and Non-preferred Reinforcers on the Maintenance of Schedule Performances of Humans |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| RUTHIE L. BEKKER-PACE (University of North Texas), Camille Parsons (University of North Texas), Thomas Anatol Da Rocha Woelz (University of North Texas), Yuka Koremura (University of North Texas), Richard L. Anderson (University of North Texas), Jesus Rosales-Ruiz (University of North Texas) |
| Abstract: Culturally popular sound-clips have been successfully used as reinforcers to maintain responding under fixed ratio schedules of reinforcement with human subject’s (Anderson, 2000; Koremura, 2001; Rouse, 1998). However, since the sound clips are not uniformly reinforcing, sometimes these sounds fail to maintain schedule behavior for some subjects. Self-report data from the subjects suggests that subjects do not like some of the sounds they hear. However, schedule control is achieved in spite of that, except when the subjects do not like the majority of sounds. The present research studies the effects of scheduling preferred and non-preferred sounds on the schedule performance of human adult subjects. College students were first given a preference assessment to establish preferred and non-preferred groups of sound clips. The subjects were then exposed to either a concurrent schedule or single FR schedule of reinforcement. For subjects on the concurrent schedule of reinforcement, one target response yielded a sound clip from the preferred group of sounds following the completion of the schedule requirement and the second target response yielded a sound clip from the non-preferred group of sounds. For subjects on the FR schedule, preferred reinforcer were scheduled first and once the FR performance achieved stability the reinforcers were change from preferred to non-preferred and back. The control achieved with preferred and non-preferred reinforcers will be discussed in terms of the implications for human operant research. |
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| 109. Some Experimental Arrangements for Studying the Effects of Concurrent Schedules of Reinforcement on Human Performances |
| Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
| CAMILLE PARSONS (University of North Texas), Jesus Rosales-Ruiz (University of North Texas), Ruthie L. Bekker-Pace (University of North Texas), Richard L. Anderson (University of North Texas), Yuka Koremura (University of North Texas) |
| Abstract: The purpose of this research is to explore the effects of several experimental arrangements on the control of human behavior under concurrent schedules of reinforcement. Subjects were normal adults with a college level education. The first phase of the experiment shows several computer techniques to shape two target behaviors with minimal instructions about the operandum and not instructions about the target behaviors. The second phase shows the control of schedule performance typically shown in concurrent schedules with animals. Response rates of different topographies of shaped key-press sequences varied according to arranged schedules (concurrent FR VR and concurrent FR FI). Results are discussed in terms of the control generated by the various shaping techniques and the effects of the schedule value on the performance of human subjects. |
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