Association for Behavior Analysis International

Stimulus preference assessments are used to assess preference for stimuli and determine potential reinforcers. The current study investigates if Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches develop a preference for a food stimulus, and what factors influence that preference, such as exposure to the stimuli and its location. Four female Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches were used in a single subject analysis of food preference through a multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessment. Only Roach One had a consistent preference for a stimulus throughout the study. The other three roaches frequently switched between stimuli, and had highly variable results. The current study also evaluated if the cockroaches display a place preference for any one location in the apparatus. These results may indicate that Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches require specific environmental conditions to develop a steady preference. Future research could better evaluate if cockroaches develop a place preference or not. The results may also indicate that methodological changes could be made to better determine preference.

The current study was designed to investigate generalization of the activity anorexia model to different subjects and variables, as few studies have explored generalization in this area. This study was used to determine if deprivation of water affects animals activity similarly to deprivation of food as seen in the activity anorexia model. The effects of water deprivation on the physical activity in four adult female Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches was examined using an ABC single case experimental design. The three phases included a baseline phase with free access to food and water, an experimental phase with no access to water in their individual containers but access during sessions, and lastly an altered experimental phase with access to water every three days. Two subjects went through phases A, B, and C and two subjects went through an extended A phase leading into the C phase. Data showed minimal differences between activity level in water deprived subjects and subjects in the baseline phase. Altering levels of water deprivation in the C phase showed more variety in subjects responses. The results of this study are inconclusive and do not support the activity anorexia hypothesis.

Researchers have indicated that eye contact is important for typically developing infants. A lack of, or an avoidance of eye contact in infants can indicate developmental problems; one disorder particularly noted for this lack of eye contact is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Infant eye contact is examined in an effective manner, in the context of the duration of the behavior and what stimulation is best for maintaining the behavior. Motherese speech and touch as well as motherese speech alone were used at the onset and off set of eye engagement and continued with the most effective stimulation. This study demonstrated how typically developing infants effectively engage in prolonged eye contact in contingency of motherese speech alone.