Resurgence when challenging alternative behavior with progressive ratios in children and pigeons

Abstract

Resurgence is defined as the recurrence of a previously reinforced and then extinguished target response when reducing or eliminating a more recently reinforced alternative response. In experiments with children and pigeons, we evaluated patterns of resurgence across and within sessions through decreases in reinforcer availability by challenging alternative responding with extinction and progressive‐ratio schedules. In Phase 1, we reinforced only target responding. In Phase 2, we extinguished target responding while reinforcing an alternative response. Finally, Phase 3 assessed resurgence by (a) extinguishing alternative responding versus (b) introducing a progressive‐ratio schedule of reinforcement for alternative responding. In both children and pigeons, resurgence of target responding occurred in both conditions but generally was greater when assessed during extinction than with progressive ratios. Importantly, within‐session patterns of resurgence did not differ between testing with progressive ratios and extinction. Resurgence with progressive ratios tended to be greater with longer durations between reinforcers but we observed similar findings with only simulated reinforcers during extinction testing. Therefore, the present investigation reveals that the events contributing to instances of resurgence remain to be understood, and presents an approach from which to examine variables influencing within‐session patterns of resurgence.

Examining stimuli paired with alternative reinforcement to mitigate resurgence in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and pigeons

“…The target and control keys arranged extinction and reinforcers were delivered for responses to the alternative key according to a FR 5 schedule (see also Ho, Bai, Keevy, & Podlesnik, 2018). The target, control, and alternative keys were all transilluminated during this phase.…”

“…The target, control, and alternative keys were all transilluminated during this phase. The target and control keys arranged extinction and reinforcers were delivered for responses to the alternative key according to a FR 5 schedule (see also Ho, Bai, Keevy, & Podlesnik, 2018). Each alternative reinforcer was signaled by a change in the alternative-key color.…”

“…To evaluate target and alternative responses, two Montessori object permanence boxes were used (see also Ho et al, 2018;Kimball et al, 2018;Liggett et al, 2018). The object permanence box includes a small plastic ball, a 10 cm x 15 cm x 15 cm wooden box, and a 15 cm x 15 cm attached tray.…”

Measurement of nontargeted problem behavior during investigations of resurgence

“…Another, more recent example of nontargeted responding during tests for resurgence was reported by Ho, Bai, Keevy, and Podlesnik (). In Experiment 1, two iterations of a three‐phase resurgence procedure were implemented with two typically developing children and three children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using Montessori Object Permanence boxes to evaluate target and alternative responses.…”

“…Collectively, the pattern of results from past evaluations of resurgence (e.g., Ho et al, ; Lieving et al, ; Wacker et al, ) suggests that functionally equivalent forms of problem behavior and/or prosocial communication not specifically targeted in an intervention may occur when more recently reinforced responses contact extinction. Along these lines, Lattal, St. Peter, and Escobar () noted that extinction not only suppresses behavior, but also generates behavior.…”