Abstract
Lick rates in rats were differentially reinforced, using an operant conditioning procedure in which specific lick rates, when maintained for specific temporal durations, were reinforced with the opportunity to run in an activity wheel. This operant conditioning paradigm is referred to as differential reinforcement of high rates of responding (DRH). Between and within Ss, lick rate variability did not exceed one lick for all DRH conditions tested in which the time base was 1 sec or less. Specific momentary lick rates were successfully reinforced for all Ss tested, but DRH conditioning did not produce higher momentary lick rates than the range of lick-rate values normally observed in baseline conditions.
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Supported by Public Health Research Grants MH-08775 and MH-12025 from the National Institute of Mental Health, R. W. Schaeffer, principal investigator. The data upon which this report is based were submitted by the senior author (S.C.P.) under the direction of the junior author (R.W.S.) in partial funfill fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the master’s degree at Florida State University.
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Pierson, S.C., Schaeffer, R.W. Differential reinforcement of specific lick rates in the rat. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 2, 31–34 (1973). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03327706
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03327706