Effects of initial-link duration on preference and resistance to change in concurrent-chains schedules.
Previous studies with concurrent-chains procedures have shown that preference for a terminal-link signaling a higher reinforcement rate decreases as initial-link durations increase. Using a concurrent-chains procedure, the present experiment examined the effects of manipulating initial-link duration on preference and resistance to disruption with rats nose poking for different rates of food reinforcement in the terminal links. Consistent with previous findings, preference for a terminal link with a higher reinforcement rate decreased with longer initial links. Conversely, relative resistance to disruption in the terminal link with a higher reinforcement rate increased with longer initial links. These findings are counter to the prediction of behavioral momentum theory that preference and resistance to change should be positively related.
Jimenez-Gomez
Corina
C
Utah State University, USA. corinaj@umich.edu
Podlesnik
Christopher A
CA
Shahan
Timothy A
TA
D000818:Animals; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D003463:Cues; D005502:Food; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology