Shifting from FR to VR Schedules of Reinforcement

 

This experimental phase demonstrates a shift from FR reinforcement in the prior 14 sessions (see Shifting From FR to VR Schedules of Reinforcement) to the application of a Variable Interval schedule of Reinforcement based on 90 secondst.

Method and Procedures

Subjects had prior training involving continuous (CRF) reinforcement for bar pressing followed by 1 session of FI-2 seconds and then 1 session of FI-90 seconds. Subjects were then transferred in the next daily session to 3 successive daily sessions of FR-5. Following those 3 sessions, from 3 (subject 4 and 5) to 5 sessions (subject 6) followed using FR-10. These sessions were, themselves, followed by either 6 successive sessions of FR-30 (subjects 4 and 5) or by 4 successive sessions of FR-30 (subject 6) (see Shifting to FR Schedules of Reinforcement). Subsequently, subjects were exposed to two successive sessions of VR 5, followed by on session of VR 10 (see Shifting From FR to VR Schedules of Reinforcement). In the present series, subjects were given two successive sessions of VI 90 second schedule training.

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Results
Individual Session Data for Each of the Three Subjects for Two Successive Sessions of VI-90:
------------ Subject 4 ----------    ------------ Subject 5 ----------    ---------- Subject 6 ----------

   

   

   

The data collected from subject 4 are shown in Column 1 of the above graphs.

The data collected from subject 5 are shown in Column 2 of the above graphs.

The data collected from subject 6 are shown in Column 3 of the above graphs.