Intromisión of a stimulus in a fixed-interval 60-sec schedule, varying the duration of the stimulus

Abstract

Three experitnentally naipe pigeons were used to evaluate the effects of a stünulus sntroduced into a baseline consisting of perforrnance in a fixed-intervol 60-sec schedule. For two of tite pigeons it was extended frorn the end of the intetval for the other sublect tite dura tion of tite intruded stitnulus was reduced frorn tite beginning of the interval It was found that the effect of the stirnulus its a function of its duration and it position wititin tite intervaL In addition, in two subjects tite duration of tite post reinforcernent pause varied as a function of sorne values of tite stirnulus duration. itt tite otiter subject, tite stünulus function was mainly affected by prior training. The distinction between operation andfunction, and tite notion of infortnativeness are discussed.