Effects of decreasing the probability and the availability of einforcement in different length temporal schedules

Abstract

One study was conducted to evaluate the effect of varying the reinforcement probability and availability in a temporally-defined schedule. Twelve male albino Wistar rats were divided into three groups. Each group were exposed to a three experimental phases with reinforcement probability (p) set at 1.0, 0.5 and 0.1. Into every experimental phase, there were set four blocks of different reinforcement availability values (Ť= 1.0, 0.5, 0.3, 0.1). The results suggest that response frequency decreased systematically with overall reinforcement probability. However, this effect seems to depend on T cycle duration. On the other hand, data shows a decrement function in percentages of water deliveries associated to decrements in water delivery availability (Ť). These results are examined in relation to properties of temporally-defined schedules and the local distribution of water deliveries and responses.