title: Observing of chain-schedule stimuli.
abstract: A classical-conditioning account of the processes maintaining behavior under chained schedules entails a backward transmission of conditioned-reinforcement effects. Assessing this process in traditional chain schedules is limited because the response maintained by stimulus onset accompanied by each link in a chain schedule may also be maintained by the primary reinforcer. In the present experiment, an observing response was used to measure the conditioned-reinforcing effects of stimuli associated with a three-link chain variable-time (VT) food schedule, and resistance-to-change tests (extinction and prefeeding) were implemented to examine if a backward transmission of reinforcement effects occur. Four pigeons served as subjects. Observing was maintained by the production of stimuli correlated with links of a three-link chain VT schedule with the middle-link stimulus maintaining the highest rate of observing, followed by the initial-link stimulus and the terminal-link stimulus maintaining the lowest observing rate. Results from resistance-to-change tests of extinction and prefeeding were not supportive of a backward transmission of reinforcement effects and in general, the pattern of resistance-to-change was forward. Based on past and current research, it appears that a backward pattern of relative rate decreases in responses maintained by stimuli correlated with a chain schedule due to disruption (i.e., extinction and prefeeding) is not a ubiquitous process that is evident within different chain-schedule arrangements.
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University, United States. Electronic address: slezak@msmary.edu.
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Slezak
authors.affiliation: West Virginia University, United States.
authors.forename: Karen G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D010856:Columbidae; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation / Q000502:physiology; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule
keywords: Chain schedules; Conditioned reinforcement; Extinction; Observing behavior; Pigeon