title: Quasi-reinforcement: control of responding by a percentage-reinforcement schedule.
abstract: When a variable-interval schedule of reinforcement was segmented into small fixed-interval components, with reinforcements following some components and brief blackouts following the others, rate of responding doubled and a positively accelerated pattern within each component was obtained. Presented according to this percentage reinforcement paradigm, the blackouts approximated the functions of a food reinforcer. These effects occurred only when the behavior sequence required to produce reinforcement was identical to that required to produce blackout. The quasi-reinforcing effects of these blackout stimuli suggest that a neutral stimulus need not occasion or accompany a primary reinforcer to acquire reinforcing properties.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Neuringer
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chung