101. THE EFFECTS OF A LOCAL NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FUNCTION BETWEEN CHOICE AND RELATIVE REINFORCER RATE.
- Author
-
Michael Davison, Elliffe, Douglas, and Marr, M. Jackson
- Subjects
- *
PSYCHOLOGICAL feedback , *PIGEON behavior , *PATCH dynamics , *BIRD habitats , *BIRD food - Abstract
Four pigeons were trained on two-key concurrent variable-interval schedules with no changeover delay. In Phase 1, relative reinforcers on the two alternatives were varied over five conditions from .1 to .9. In Phases 2 and 3, we instituted a molar feedback function between relative choice in an interreinforcer interval and the probability of reinforcers on the two keys ending the next interreinforcer interval. The feedback function was linear, and was negatively sloped so that more extreme choice in an interreinforcer interval made it more likely that a reinforcer would be available on the other key at the end of the next interval. The slope of the feedback function was 21 in Phase 2 and 23 in Phase 3. We varied relative reinforcers in each of these phases by changing the intercept of the feedback function. Little effect of the feedback functions was discernible at the local (interreinforcer interval) level, but choice measured at an extended level across sessions was strongly and significantly decreased by increasing the negative slope of the feedback function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF