Multiple-interval timing in rats: Performance on two-valued mixed fixed-interval schedules.
Three experiments studied timing in rats on 2-valued mixed-fixed-interval schedules, with equally probable components, Fixed-Interval S and Fixed-Interval L (FI S and FI L, respectively). When the L:S ratio was greater than 4, 2 distinct response peaks appeared close to FI S and FI L, and data could be well fitted by the sum of 2 Gaussian curves. When the L:S ratio was less than 4, only 1 response peak was usually visible, but nonlinear regression often identified separate sources of behavioral control, by FI S and FI L, although control by FI L dominated. Data were used to test ideas derived from scalar expectancy theory, the behavioral theory of timing, and learning to time.
School of Psychology, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom.
S
S
Whitaker
C F
CF
Lowe
J H
JH
Wearden
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013997:Time Factors