Differential reinforcement of low rates differentially decreased timing precision

Title
Differential reinforcement of low rates differentially decreased timing precision
Publication Date
2018-06
Author(s)
Eckard, Matthew L
Kyonka, Elizabeth G E
( 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.2018.02.022
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/54670
Abstract

Timing processes have been implicated as potential mechanisms that underlie self-controlled choice. To investigate the impact of an intervention that has been shown to increase self-controlled choice on timing processes, accuracy and precision of temporal discrimination were assessed in an 18-s peak procedure (18-s fixed interval trials; 54-s peak trials). During an intervention phase, mice in three treatment groups experienced differential reinforcement of low rate (DRL) schedules of reinforcement of 27 s, 18 s, or 9 s. A fourth group received continued exposure to the peak procedure. After the DRL intervention, timing was reassessed using the peak procedure. In contrast to previous reports, the DRL intervention resulted in less precise timing as indicated by increased peak spread and disrupted single-trial measures of temporal control. These effects were only detected just after the DRL intervention suggesting a transient effect of DRL exposure on timing. The increase in peak spread in the present experiment suggests delay exposure via DRL schedules may produce a "dose-dependent" effect on temporal discrimination, which may also increase self-controlled choice.

Link
Citation
Behavioural Processes, v.151, p. 111-118
ISSN
1872-8308
0376-6357
Pubmed ID
29608943
Start page
111
End page
118

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