The use of conditioned cues associated with air hunger as reinforcers: a case report.
During the operant conditioning of eating behavior with a 3-year-old boy who breathed with the aid of a respirator, it was discovered serendipitiously that the patient had apparently associated certain secondary cues with the experience of air hunger. An attempt was made to use these cues as secondary reinforcers to condition eating behavior. The results were dramatic. Implications for the use of conditioned cues associated with air hunger as secondary reinforcers in the conditioning of respiratory, and possibly other, patients are discussed.
Wright
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University of Oklahoma, Norman 73069.
D000855:Anorexia / Q000523:psychology*; D001049:Apnea / Q000523:psychology*; D001245:Association Learning; D001348:Aversive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009187:Myelitis / Q000523:psychology*; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000523:psychology*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000523:psychology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012803:Sick Role; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical