Abstract
Pigeons were exposed to multiple schedules in which a key was lit in one component and a bar was present in the other. Ten subjects were trained to peck the key and to press the bar with their feet, and four subjects were trained to peck both the bar and the key. After a period of exposure to variable-interval reinforcement in both components, subjects were exposed to extinction in one component. Only one of the 10 pigeons in the key-peck:bar-press condition showed an increase in rate in the other component, while seven of them showed a decrease. In the key-peck:bar-peck condition, three of the four subjects showed positive contrast. The data suggest that a condition for contrast to occur is that topographically similar behaviors be required in both components of the multiple schedule.
Full text
PDF








Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- FLESHLER M., HOFFMAN H. S. A progression for generating variable-interval schedules. J Exp Anal Behav. 1962 Oct;5:529–530. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1962.5-529. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- REYNOLDS G. S. Behavioral contrast. J Exp Anal Behav. 1961 Jan;4:57–71. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1961.4-57. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Westbrook R. F. Failure to obtain positive contrast when pigeons press a bar. J Exp Anal Behav. 1973 Nov;20(3):499–510. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1973.20-499. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
