Aftereffects of the surprising presentation and omission of appetitive reinforcers on key-pecking performance in pigeons.
The reinforcement-omission effect (ROE), also known as frustration effect, refers to greater response strength immediately after nonreinforcement (N) than reinforcement (R). The ROE was traditionally interpreted as transient invigoration after N induced by primary frustration. Pigeons demonstrate similar ROEs whether outcomes are surprising (partial R) or expected (discrimination training) in runway (Experiment 1) and Skinner box situations (Experiments 2-3). Variations in the interval between N and the opportunity to respond indicate that the ROE results from an aftereffect of food consumption (Experiment 4). Increasing reinforcer magnitude increased the after-R effect, without modifying the after-N function (Experiment 5). These results are reviewed in the context of comparative research on spaced-trial successive negative contrast and related phenomena that have failed to appear in experiments involving nonmammalian vertebrates.
Stout
Steven C
SC
Department of Psychology, Texas Christian University, Box 298920, Fort Worth, Texas 76129, USA.
Muzio
Rubén N
RN
Boughner
Robert L
RL
Papini
Mauricio R
MR
D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D010856:Columbidae; D005639:Frustration; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013997:Time Factors