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Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior logoLink to Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
. 2004 Jan;81(1):51–64. doi: 10.1901/jeab.2004.81-51

The effects of behavioral history on response acquisition with immediate and delayed reinforcement.

Susan Snycerski 1, Sean Laraway 1, Bradley E Huitema 1, Alan Poling 1
PMCID: PMC1284971  PMID: 15113133

Abstract

Effects of prior exposure to the experimental chamber with levers present or absent and variable-time (VT) 60-s water deliveries arranged during one, five, or no 1-hr sessions were examined in rats during a 6-hr response-acquisition session in which presses on one lever produced water delivery immediately or after a 15-s resetting delay, and presses on the other lever canceled scheduled water deliveries. Response acquisition was (a) slower to occur when water deliveries were delayed, (b) most consistent in groups that had received five VT sessions, and (c) impaired by the presence of levers only when there had been five VT sessions and water deliveries were delayed during the acquisition session.

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Selected References

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