Schedule-induced defecation: a demonstration in pigeons exposed to fixed-time schedules of food delivery.
Previous studies have found that defecation increases in rats exposed to intermittent schedules of food delivery. In the present study, food-deprived pigeons were exposed to fixed-time 30-, 60-, 120-, and 240-s schedules of food delivery. For the subjects as a group, significantly more defecation (indexed by fecal weight) occurred under the fixed-time 60-s schedule than during massed-food control sessions in which an equivalent amount of food was presented. Thus, the present findings suggest that schedule-induced defecation occurs in pigeons.
Jarema
K
K
Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo 49008, USA.
LeSage
M
M
Poling
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D010856:Columbidae; D004609:Eliminative Behavior, Animal; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule