The Role of the Reinforcer as a Stimulus

Reid, R. L.

doi:10.1111/j.2044-8295.1958.tb00658.x

Cited by 114 publications

(124 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The effect of free feeding on recovery of responding in pigeons has previously been described by Reid (1958). Figure 1 shows this effect in the present experiment.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 71%

Spectral generalization testing with pigeons using brief discrete trials

Holland

Baker

1968

Psychon Sci

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The procedure of Guttman & Kalish (1956) for obtaining generalization gradients in extinction following variable interval (VI) training to a single stimulus value has proved a valuable tool for the analysis of behavior. The length of the VI trial, however, limits the usefulness of this procedure for certain types of questions. An alternative generalization testing procedure, explored in the present study, involves short, closely spaced discrete trials, each trial terminated by a single peck, and employs a probability measure of response. The relatively brief sampling time of the discrete trial procedure permits a more detailed tracking of the behavioral change during the generalization test. The present study was designed to examine the change in extent of generalization during extinction and recovery of responding. MethodTwelve White Carneaux pigeons, maintained at 80% of their ad lib weights, were trained to peck a Plexiglas key illuminated from behind by 550 mf.L from Bausch and . LOmb monochromators. All control, timing, schedule, and analysis functions were provided by a LINC computer operating on-line. Relays controlled by the LINC activated shutters, magazines, and magazine lights. The LINC in addition sensed switch openings resulting from pecks. During the first 14 days of training percent reinforcement was reduced from 100% to 10%, and trial time was reduced from 6 to 3 sec. For the last six days of training the animals were run on 3 sec trials and 10% random reinforcement. Throughout training and testing, trials were terminated either when the 3 sec had elapsed or when a peck occurred.The 11 stimuli used for the generalization test consisted of monochromatic values from 500 to 600 mf.L, at 10 mf.L intervals. Each sequential block of 11 3 sec trials was composed of the 11 test stimuli presented in random order separated by 2 sec blackouts. Four days of generalization testing occurred, conSisting of 4000 trials. Interpolated feedings ("free" feedings) occurred at regular intervals throughout

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“…The effect of free feeding on recovery of responding in pigeons has previously been described by Reid (1958). Figure 1 shows this effect in the present experiment.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 71%

Spectral generalization testing with pigeons using brief discrete trials

Holland

Baker

1968

Psychon Sci

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“…Consistent with this prediction, it has long been known that noncontingently delivered outcomes can reinstate the performance of extinguished instrumental responding (e.g., Franks & Lattal, 1976;Reid, 1958;Rescorla & Skucy, 1969). Much remains unknown, however, about the specific function of the delivered outcome in instrumental reinstatement.…”

mentioning

confidence: 74%

“…However, if the associative process underlying the influence of outcome value over performance is also responsible for the reinstatement effect, then the outcome's capacity to reinstate performance should depend on its current value. Alternatively, the S o -R account assumes that the outcome mediating reinstatement acts essentially as a discriminative stimulus (e.g., Capaldi, 1967;Franks & Lattal, 1976;Reid, 1958;Rescorla & Skucy, 1969). According to this view, it is the sensory properties of the outcome, and not its incentive properties, that become associated with the instrumental response.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selective reinstatement of instrumental performance depends on the discriminative stimulus properties of the mediating outcome

Ostlund

Balleine

2007

Animal Learning & Behavior

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We conducted three experiments to investigate the associative structure underlying the reinstatement of instrumental performance after extinction. In each experiment, rats were initially rewarded on two responses with different outcomes. At test, both responses were extinguished in order to assess the impact of a single noncontingent outcome delivery on response selection. Experiment 1 found evidence of outcome-selective reinstatement (i.e., more responses were performed on the lever that was trained with the reinstating outcome than on the other lever). Experiment 2 demonstrated that the outcome's capacity to reinstate performance was not affected by a reduction in its motivational value. Experiment 3 found evidence that the reinstating outcome selectively retrieved the response it signaled rather than the response it followed during training. Together, these findings are consistent with the view that instrumental reinstatement depends on the discriminative stimulus properties of the reinstating outcome.

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“…A stimuiltus may ser-ve botlh r-einforcing and discrimninative functions simultaneouisly, but one ftunction might mask the otlher. For examnple, Reid (1958) and Cruse, Vittulli, and Dei-tke (1966) demonstr-ated that food can have discriminative effects as well as reinforcing effects. Also, Kelleher and Gollub (1962) an(d Man-i-(1969) dliscuisse(d the possibility that the conditioned-r-einforcing effects of chained-sclhedule stimuitili often are masked by the dlisci-iminative effects.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discriminative Properties of Briefly Presented Stimuli

Cohen¹,

Stubbs

1976

J Exper Analysis Behavior

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In Experiment I, pigeons' responses produced food according to a fixed-interval schedule while responses on the key also produced brief stimuli according to a variable-interval schedule. Each brief stimulus reset the fixed interval. Thus, a brief stimulus occurred irregularly but a fixed minimum time separated the occurrence of food from a brief stimulus. Pauses followed brief stimuli and were followed by an accelerated response rate until another brief stimulus or food occurred. In Experiment II, four control procedures were exaiiiined.(1) Brief-stimulus presentations were omitted, producing a loss of response patterning. (2) A second-order schedule was studied with fixed-interval components. This schedule produced patterning following brief stimuli similar in kind and degree to that found in Experiment I. (3) A conjoint schedule was arranged in which food was no longer separated from the stimulus by a fixed time; pauses following the stimulus no longer resulted. (4) A brief food reinforcer replaced the brief visual stimulus, resulting in a constant response rate with no pausing following the brief food stimulus. The results suggest that the briefstimulus effects were due to discriminative functions produced by the fixed temporal relation separating the stimulus from food.Key words: brief-stimulus schedule, discriminative stimulus, conditioned reinforcement, second-order schedule, fixed interval, variable interval, Index of Curvature, pigeons Brief-stimulus presentations have striking effects on schedule performance. If, for example, a pigeon has to complete a sequence of 15 fixed-interval schedules before food is presented and completion of each interval ends in a brief stimulus (e.g., 1-sec white keylight), a fixed-interval pattern of responding typically results within each component (Kelleher, 1966a). Performance within each fixed interval would be characterized by a pause followed by a positively accelerated rate. The pattern of performance within components is like that observed under simple fixed-interval schedules where each interval ends with a reinforcer such as food (Ferster and Skinner, 1957

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The Role of the Reinforcer as a Stimulus

Cited by 114 publications

References 2 publications

Spectral generalization testing with pigeons using brief discrete trials

Spectral generalization testing with pigeons using brief discrete trials

Selective reinstatement of instrumental performance depends on the discriminative stimulus properties of the mediating outcome

Discriminative Properties of Briefly Presented Stimuli

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