Adjusting to changes in the time of reinforcement: Peak interval transitions in rats.

Abstract

Thirty rats received training on a peak-interval procedure, where a baseline with a 20-s time of reinforcement was interspersed among cyclic transitions to other reinforcement time values (10, 20, 30, or 40 s), each of which was either in force for only a single session or for 3 sessions. Peak times were close to the time of reinforcement on the 20-s baseline and tracked the new reinforcement times both closely (but not exactly) and very rapidly. Peak time during transitions was affected by the criterion value in force on the previous session, exhibiting a proactive interference effect. Analysis of individual peak times during a session showed that transitions from lower to higher reinforcement time values were usually characterized by abrupt jumps in peak time, whereas descending transitions were mostly smooth but rapid.

Memory loss in old rats is associated with brain mitochondrial decay and RNA/DNA oxidation: Partial reversal by feeding acetyl- l -carnitine and/or R -α-lipoic acid

“…The peak procedure is a time-discrimination procedure, which resembles a discrete-trials fixed-interval schedule with catch trials; it has been used to study the timing abilities of animals (37). Several studies have shown that old rats have deficits in time perception (57)(58)(59)(60)(61). One advantage of the peak procedure is that it allows for comparison of performance by using different types of signals and sensory modalities.…”

Operant Conditioning

“…A separate series of experiments in the temporal-control tradition, beginning in the late 1980s, studied the real-time dynamics of interval timing (e.g., Higa et al 1991, Lejeune et al 1997, Wynne & Staddon 1988; see Staddon 2001a for a review). These experiments have led to a simple empirical principle that may have wide application.…”

Dynamics of temporal discrimination

“…Some analyses of the acquisition of a temporal discrimination have focused on the dynamics of initial acquisition (Ferster & Skinner, 1957;Kirkpatrick & Church, 2000a;Machado & Cevik, 1998). Other analyses have focused on transition effects-changes in the performance produced by changes in the fixed interval (Higa, 1997;Higa, Thaw, & Staddon, 1993;Lejeune, Ferrara, Simons, & Wearden, 1997;Meck, Komeily-Zadeh, & Church, 1984). The analysis of initial acquisition has not been integrated with the analysis of transition effects.…”