Environmental dynamics modulate covariation of choice and timing

Title
Environmental dynamics modulate covariation of choice and timing
Publication Date
2016
Author(s)
Subramaniam, Shrinidhi
Kyonka, Elizabeth
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7974-6080
Email: ekyonka@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:ekyonka
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Place of publication
Netherlands
DOI
10.1016/j.beproc.2016.01.005
UNE publication id
une:21953
Abstract
Response allocation between delayed reinforcers is presumably a function of the discrimination of thosedelays. In the present experiment, we analyzed the functional relation between response allocation andtemporal discrimination across different environmental dynamics. Three pigeons pecked for food in aconcurrent-chain schedule. Concurrent variable-interval initial links produced fixed-interval (FI) termi-nal links. Start and stop times, single-trial measures of temporal discrimination, were obtained fromoccasional ‘no-food’ terminal links. In dynamic, rapid-acquisition conditions, terminal links were FI 10 sand 20 s and the location of the initial link leading to the shorter terminal link varied unpredictably acrosssessions. In the static conditions, both terminal links were either “uniform” FI 15-s schedules or one termi-nal link was “fixed” at FI 10 s and the other at 20 s. Response allocation and start and stop times adjustedwithin sessions in dynamic conditions and across sessions of static conditions. Residuals from regres-sions of expected on programmed immediacy ratios were positively correlated to a greater magnitudein dynamic than static conditions. This change in residual covariation demonstrated that environmentaldynamics modulated the relation between choice and timing.
Link
Citation
Behavioural Processes, v.124, p. 130-140
ISSN
1872-8308
0376-6357
Start page
130
End page
140

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