The Role Of Positive Conditioned Reinforcement In The Maintenance Of Keypecking Which Prevents Delivery Of Primary Reinforcement

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-1972

Published In

Psychonomic Science

Abstract

When a pecking key is briefly illuminated prior to the presentation of a grain reinforcer, keypecking is reliably developed and maintained in pigeons, even when pecking extinguishes the keylifeht and prevents reinforcement (negative automaintenance). This experiment assessed the role of response-produced key offset as a possible conditioned positive reinforcer of keypecking. Pigeons responded in a substantial proportion of the trials (50%–66%) on a procedure in which key illumination coterminated with reinforcer availability, and in which keypecks prevented reinforcement but did not extinguish the keylight. Thus, the notion that negative automaintenance keypecking is a function of conditioned positive reinforcement must be rejected.

This document is currently not available here.

Plum Print visual indicator of research metrics
PlumX Metrics
  • Citations
    • Citation Indexes: 25
  • Usage
    • Abstract Views: 6
  • Captures
    • Readers: 3
see details

Share

COinS