The Spatial Distribution of Behavior Under Varying Frequencies of Temporally Scheduled Water Delivery

Abstract

Two studies evaluated the effects of response-independent water deliveries on the location (on the floor of the experimental chamber) and position (height) of rats' behavior. In both experiments, fixed-time schedules delivered water in two dispensers that were located at opposite ends of the chamber. In Experiment 1, the two schedules provided complementary frequencies of water deliveries while the overall number of deliveries stayed constant. In Experiment 2, one of the schedules delivered water twice as frequently as the other; this proportion was kept constant while the overall density of water deliveries changed systematically. In both experiments, a single position (height) of behavior was dominant. Also, the percentage of time allocated to each dispenser was roughly proportional to the percentage of water deliveries associated with the dispensers. These data and additional considerations support the importance of examining the spatial properties and patterning of behavior.

Una Exploración de las Propiedades Espaciales Desde la Lógica de los Programas de Estímulo

“…Los autores reportaron que la razón de tiempo que las palomas pasaron en uno de los dos lados de la cámara experimental fue directamente proporcional a la razón de reforzamiento producida en cada dispensador. Efectos similares a este han sido encontrados en otros estudios (Pear & Rector, 1979;Pear, 1985;Ribes & Torres, 2000;Ribes, Torres, Correa, & Montes, 2006). Empero, en estos experimentos la distancia espacial entre los estímulos (palanca, luz, bebedero) no varió, en otras palabras, la dimensión espacial de los estímulos no fue manipulada en el sentido de variable independiente.…”

“…Por ejemplo, el procedimiento generalmente compartido por estos estudios implica que el investigador manipula alguna propiedad temporal de los estímulos (demora de reforzamiento, densidad de reforzamiento, duración del reforzador, entre otros) como una variable independiente, mientras que registra los cambios en las propiedades espaciales de la actividad del organismo como una variable dependiente (ubicación espacial, reorientación espacial, trayectorias, etc.). De este modo, la dimensión espacial es reducida a un efecto y no se concibe como un factor que determina el desarrollo de los fenómenos conductuales (para una revisión más completa de este tipo de procedimientos, consultar los siguientes estudios: Baum & Rachlin, 1969;Pear, 1985;Pear & Rector, 1979;Ribes & Torres, 2000;Torres, Correa, & Montes, 2006).…”

Extended Behavior-Context Relations: a Molar View of Functional Analytic Psychotherapy

“…The basic research literature provides some examples of using time allocation (e.g., Pear, 1985;Buckner, Green, & Myerson, 1993;Ribes-Iñesta & Torres, 2000;Ribes-Iñesta, Torres, Correa, & Montes, 2006), but the applied literature has only a few such examples. These papers exemplify the utility of time allocation as a measurement strategy.…”

Effects of Concurrent Temporal and Spatial Allocation of Water Delivery on Water-Seeking Behavior in Rats

“…Simple linear models such as optimization or matching, predict, not always successfully, foraging behavior in terms of the relation between choice and response frequency. Ribes-Iñesta et al (Ribes-Iñesta & Torres, 2000;Ribes-Iñesta, Torres, Correa, & Montes, 2006) assessed the effect of response-independent water deliveries on the spatiotemporal distribution of rats' behavior in a modified two-panel operant chamber. In contrast to mainstream studies, response-independent water reinforcement was provided concurrently in two opposite locations, in such a way that water presentation varied by location and time in different experimental conditions.…”

“…In an early study, Ribes-Iñesta and Torres (2000) evaluated the effects of water deliveries at regular intervals on the location of rats in a modified standard operant chamber. The experimental chamber contained two water dispensers, each located on opposite walls.…”