Serial pattern learning of temporal intervals

Author(s): Lacourse, D. M.

Journal/Book: Anim Learn Behav. 1998; 26: 1710 Fortview Rd, Austin, TX 78704. Psychonomic Soc Inc. 272-289.

Abstract: The problem was to determine how rats adjust the times of their lever responses to repeating sequences of interfood intervals. In Experiment 1, rats were trained on an interval schedule of reinforcement with a 12-element Fleshler-Hoffman series with a mean of 60 sec; the order was as follows: ascending, random with repetition, random with replacement, random without replacement. In Experiment 2, rats were trained with a 10-element ascending or descending series (from 2(0) to 2(9) sec), and in a ramp procedure in which these intervals increased and then decreased repeatedly. In the ascending, descending, and ramp conditions (but not in the random conditions), postreinforcement pause (PRP) was a function of the interval. PRP was most highly correlated with an interval later in the series. Theories of conditioning and timing based on the averaging of past experience must be modified to account for such anticipatory behavior.

Note: Article Church RM, Brown Univ, Dept Psychol, Box 1853, Providence,RI 02912 USA

Keyword(s): TIME DISCRIMINATION; FORMAL-STRUCTURE; SCHEDULES; RATS; DYNAMICS; REINFORCEMENT; PIGEONS; DETERMINES; MEMORY; REWARD

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