High-rate operant behavior in two mouse strains: a response-bout analysis.
Operant behavior sometimes occurs in bouts characterized by an initiation rate, within-bout response rate, and bout length. The generality of this structure was tested using high-rate nose-poking in mice. Reinforcement of short interresponse times produced high response rates while a random-interval schedule held reinforcement rates constant. BALB/c mice produced bouts that were more frequent, longer, and contained a higher within-bout rate of responding (nine nose-pokes/s) than did the C57BL/6 mice (five nose-pokes/s). Adding a running wheel decreased total nose-pokes and bout length, and increased bout-initiation rate. Free-feeding reduced nose-poking by decreasing bout-initiation rate. Photoperiod reversal decreased bout-initiation rate but not total nose-poke rate. Despite strain differences in bout structure, both strains responded similarly to the interventions. The three bout measures were correlated with overall rate but not with each other. Log-survival analyses provided independent descriptors of the structure of high-rate responding in these two strains.
Johnson
Joshua E
JE
Auburn University, Thach Hall, Auburn, AL 36830, USA. jej8283@yahoo.com
Pesek
Erin F
EF
Newland
M Christopher
MC
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005502:Food; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D008027:Light; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D017440:Photoperiod; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013045:Species Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis