Skip to main content
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior logoLink to Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
. 2002 Jan;77(1):105–124. doi: 10.1901/jeab.2002.77-105

A tuned-trace theory of interval-timing dynamics.

J E R Staddon 1, I M Chelaru 1, J J Higa 1
PMCID: PMC1284850  PMID: 11859841

Abstract

Animals on interval schedules of reinforcement can rapidly adjust a temporal dependent variable, such as wait time, to changes in the prevailing interreinforcement interval. We describe data on the effects of impulse, step, sine-cyclic, and variable-interval schedules and show that they can be explained by a tuned-trace timing model with a one-back threshold-setting rule. The model can also explain steady-state timing properties such as proportional and Weber law timing and the effects of reinforcement magnitude. The model assumes that food reinforcers and other time markers have a decaying effect (trace) with properties that can be derived from the rate-sensitive property of habituation (the multiple-time-scale model). In timing experiments, response threshold is determined by the trace value at the time of the most recent reinforcement. The model provides a partial account for the learning of multiple intervals, but does not account for scalloping and other postpause features of responding on interval schedules and has some problems with square-wave schedules.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (328.3 KB).

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Baum W. M. Performances on ratio and interval schedules of reinforcement: Data and theory. J Exp Anal Behav. 1993 Mar;59(2):245–264. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1993.59-245. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Catania A. C., Reynolds G. S. A quantitative analysis of the responding maintained by interval schedules of reinforcement. J Exp Anal Behav. 1968 May;11(3 Suppl):327–383. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1968.11-s327. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Church R. M., Meck W. H., Gibbon J. Application of scalar timing theory to individual trials. J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process. 1994 Apr;20(2):135–155. doi: 10.1037//0097-7403.20.2.135. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Epstein R. Amount consumed varies as a function of feeder design. J Exp Anal Behav. 1985 Jul;44(1):121–125. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1985.44-121. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Gibbon J., Church R. M. Representation of time. Cognition. 1990 Nov;37(1-2):23–54. doi: 10.1016/0010-0277(90)90017-e. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Higa J. J. Dynamics of time discrimination: II. The effects of multiple impulses. J Exp Anal Behav. 1996 Jul;66(1):117–134. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1996.66-117. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Higa J. J., Wynne C. D., Staddon J. E. Dynamics of time discrimination. J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process. 1991 Jul;17(3):281–291. doi: 10.1037//0097-7403.17.3.281. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Killeen P. R., Fetterman J. G. A behavioral theory of timing. Psychol Rev. 1988 Apr;95(2):274–295. doi: 10.1037/0033-295x.95.2.274. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Lejeune H., Ferrara A., Simons F., Wearden J. H. Adjusting to changes in the time of reinforcement: peak-interval transitions in rats. J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Process. 1997 Apr;23(2):211–231. doi: 10.1037//0097-7403.23.2.211. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Lowe C. F., Davey G. C., Harzem P. Effects of reinforcement magnitude on interval and ratio schedules. J Exp Anal Behav. 1974 Nov;22(3):553–560. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1974.22-553. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Machado A. Learning the temporal dynamics of behavior. Psychol Rev. 1997 Apr;104(2):241–265. doi: 10.1037/0033-295x.104.2.241. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. STADDON J. E. SOME PROPERTIES OF SPACED RESPONDING IN PIGEONS. J Exp Anal Behav. 1965 Jan;8:19–27. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1965.8-19. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Staddon J. E. Attention and temporal discrimination: factors controlling responding under a cyclic-interval schedule. J Exp Anal Behav. 1967 Jul;10(4):349–359. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1967.10-349. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Staddon J. E. Effect of reinforcement duration on fixed-interval responding. J Exp Anal Behav. 1970 Jan;13(1):9–11. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1970.13-9. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Staddon J. E., Higa J. J. Multiple time scales in simple habituation. Psychol Rev. 1996 Oct;103(4):720–733. doi: 10.1037/0033-295x.103.4.720. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Staddon J. E., Higa J. J. Time and memory: towards a pacemaker-free theory of interval timing. J Exp Anal Behav. 1999 Mar;71(2):215–251. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1999.71-215. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Staddon J., Higa J., Chelaru I. Time, trace, memory. J Exp Anal Behav. 1999 Mar;71(2):293–301. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1999.71-293. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Wynne C. D., Staddon J. E. Typical delay determines waiting time on periodic-food schedules: Static and dynamic tests. J Exp Anal Behav. 1988 Sep;50(2):197–210. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1988.50-197. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Wynne C. D., Staddon J. E. Waiting in pigeons: the effects of daily intercalation on temporal discrimination. J Exp Anal Behav. 1992 Jul;58(1):47–66. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1992.58-47. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Zeiler M. D., Powell D. G. Temporal control in fixed-interval schedules. J Exp Anal Behav. 1994 Jan;61(1):1–9. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1994.61-1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior are provided here courtesy of Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior

RESOURCES