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Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior logoLink to Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
. 1962 Jan;5(1):3–13. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1962.5-3

Observing responses in pigeons

Roger T Kelleher, William C Riddle, Leonard Cook
PMCID: PMC1404184  PMID: 14454921

Abstract

Pigeons were trained on an observing-response procedure in which periods of VR 100 and EXT alternated unpredictably during a white light (mixed stimulus). During VR 100, responses on a food-producing key (the first key) were intermittently reinforced. Responses on the observing key (the second key) produced a green light (positive stimulus) when VR 100 was in effect, and a red light (negative stimulus) for EXT. The birds did not respond on either key during the negative stimulus, but they responded on the food-producing key when the positive stimulus appeared. When observing responses produced the positive or negative stimulus on FR, observing responses were maintained until the FR reached a maximum; beyond this, only food-producing responses occurred. When observing responses did not produce either stimulus, the observing-response rates fell to zero. With prolonged exposure to an FR 20 schedule of observing, observing-response rates during EXT were higher than during VR 100. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride decreased the total response output but markedly increased observing-response rates except when it was administered before sessions of observing response extinction.

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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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