INHIBITING FUNCTION OF REINFORCEMENT: MAGNITUDE EFFECTS ON VARIABLE-INTERVAL SCHEDULES

In two experiments, the performance of rats under constant-probability and arithmetic variable-interval schedules respectively was compared when the concentration of a liquid reinforcer was varied within sessions; in other sessions, half of the reinforcers were randomly omitted. When the discriminat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 1978-07, Vol.30 (1), p.1-10
Main Authors: Harzem, Peter, Lowe, C. Fergus, Priddle-Higson, Peter J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
arithmetic variable interval
constant probability variable interval
discriminative control
inhibition
postreinforcement pause
rats
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:In two experiments, the performance of rats under constant-probability and arithmetic variable-interval schedules respectively was compared when the concentration of a liquid reinforcer was varied within sessions; in other sessions, half of the reinforcers were randomly omitted. When the discriminative function of the reinforcer as a signal for a decrease in the probability of reinforcement was attenuated (the constant-probability schedule) the postreinforcement pause duration was nevertheless an increasing function of reinforcer magnitude. This relationship was also present, but more marked, when the temporal discriminative function of the reinforcer was enhanced (the arithmetic schedule). These results suggested that reinforcement has an unconditioned suppressive effect on the reinforced response distinct from any discriminative function it may acquire. The reinforcement-omission effect, where response rate accelerates following omission, was observed when the reinforcer functioned as an effective temporal discriminative stimulus, but not when such temporal control was absent.
ISSN:0022-5002
1938-3711
DOI:10.1901/jeab.1978.30-1