title: Rate and temporal pattern of key pecking under autoshaping and omission schedules of reinforcement.
abstract: The role of response-reinforcer contiguity on autoshaped key pecking in pigeons was studied by scheduling response-dependent nonreinforcement at the beginning or the end of brief (8-sec) discrete trials. Schedules that permitted chance conjunctions of key pecking and food sustained high rates of responding, whereas those that prevented the occurrence of key peck-food intervals shorter than 4 sec sustained low response rates. In addition, selective reinforcement schedules supported accelerating or decelerating rates of responding within individual trials. These effects were traceable to response-reinforcer (operant), but not stimulus-reinforcer (respondent) factors.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Deich
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Wasserman