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. 1973 Nov;20(3):499–510. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1973.20-499

Failure to obtain positive contrast when pigeons press a bar1

R F Westbrook
PMCID: PMC1334175  PMID: 16811722

Abstract

In Experiment 1, two groups of pigeons were exposed to multiple variable-interval 1-min variable-interval 1-min schedules of reinforcement. The required response was a key peck for one group, and a foot press of a bar for the other. When the procedure was shifted to multiple variable-interval 1-min extinction, positive contrast occurred with pigeons that key pecked, whereas negative induction occurred with those that bar pressed. Moreover, the absence of contrast could not be ascribed to the lack of inhibition, since negative generalization gradients after bar press training were U-shaped in Experiment 2. The results are discussed in terms of possible relationships between positive contrast and the phenomenon of autoshaping.

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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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