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. 1978 May;29(3):351–361. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1978.29-351

Species differences in temporal control of behavior II: human performance1

C Fergus Lowe, Peter Harzem, Michael Bagshaw
PMCID: PMC1332835  PMID: 16812062

Abstract

Human subjects responded on two panels. A differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate schedule with a limited-hold contingency operated on Panel A. In Condition 1, responses on Panel B produced a stimulus on the panel that signalled whether reinforcement was available on Panel A. In Condition 2, responses on Panel B briefly illuminated a digital clock. In both conditions, performance on Panel A was very efficient; with few exceptions, Panel A was pressed only when reinforcement was available. Thus, in effect, a fixed-interval schedule operated on Panel B. In Condition 1, a “break-and-run” response pattern occurred on Panel B; with increasing temporal parameters, the duration of the postreinforcement pause on Panel B increased linearly while overall response rate and running rate (calculated by excluding the postreinforcement pauses) remained approximately constant. In Condition 2, the response pattern on Panel B was scalloped; the postreinforcement pause was a negatively accelerated increasing function of schedule value, while overall response rate and running rate were negatively accelerated decreasing functions of schedule value. The performance of subjects in Condition 2, but not in Condition 1, was highly sensitive to the contingencies in operation, and resembled that of other species on the fixed-interval schedule.

Keywords: temporal cues, species differences, clocks, postreinforcement pause, differential reinforcement of low rate, fixed interval, humans

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Selected References

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

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