Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 12 of 12

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

The Role Of Dopamine In Reinforcement: Changes In Reinforcement Sensitivity Induced By D1-Type, D2-Type, And Nonselective Dopamine Receptor Agonists, Natalie A. Bratcher, Valeri Farmer-Dougan, James Dougan, Byron A. Heidenreich, Paul A. Garris Oct 2005

The Role Of Dopamine In Reinforcement: Changes In Reinforcement Sensitivity Induced By D1-Type, D2-Type, And Nonselective Dopamine Receptor Agonists, Natalie A. Bratcher, Valeri Farmer-Dougan, James Dougan, Byron A. Heidenreich, Paul A. Garris

James Dougan

Dose-dependent changes in sensitivity to reinforcement were found when rats were treated with low, moderate, and high doses of the partial dopamine D1-type receptor agonist SKF38393 and with the nonselective dopamine agonist apomorphine, but did not change when rats were treated with similar doses of the selective dopamine D2-type receptor agonist quinpirole. Estimates of bias did not differ significantly across exposure to SKF38393 or quinpirole, but did change significantly at the high dose of apomorphine. Estimates of goodness of fit (r2) did not change significantly during quinpirole exposure. Poor goodness of fit was obtained …


The Man Who Listens To Behavior: Folk Wisdom And Behavior Analysis From A Real Horse Whisperer, James Dougan, Valeri Farmer-Dougan Jun 1999

The Man Who Listens To Behavior: Folk Wisdom And Behavior Analysis From A Real Horse Whisperer, James Dougan, Valeri Farmer-Dougan

James Dougan

The popular novel and movie The Horse Whisperer are based on the work of several real-life horse whisperers, the most famous of whom is Monty Roberts. Over the last 50 years, Roberts has developed a technique for training horses that is both more effective and less aversive than traditional training techniques. An analysis of Roberts’ methods (as described in his book, The Man Who Listens to Horses) indicates a deep understanding of behavioral principles including positive reinforcement, timeout, species-specific defense reactions, ‘‘learned helplessness,’’ and the behavioral analysis of language. Roberts developed his theory and techniques on the basis of …


Within-Session Changes In The Vi Response Function: Separating Food Density From Elapsed Session Time, James Dougan, Laura Campbell Jun 1995

Within-Session Changes In The Vi Response Function: Separating Food Density From Elapsed Session Time, James Dougan, Laura Campbell

James Dougan

Previous studies examining the relationship between response rate and reinforcement rate on variable- interval schedules (the variable-interval response function) have confounded elapsed session time with within-session changes in food density. The present experiments attempted to manipulate these factors independently and thus isolate their effects on responding. In Experiment 1, 7 rats pressed a bar for food on a series of four variable-interval schedules (7.5 s, 15 s, 30 s, and 480 s). Elapsed session time was held constant while food density was manipulated via a presession feeding. Changes in food density altered the form of the variable-interval response function, independently …


Gallistel’S The Organization Of Learning: This Is Not Creation Science, James Dougan Oct 1994

Gallistel’S The Organization Of Learning: This Is Not Creation Science, James Dougan

James Dougan

No abstract provided.


Session Duration And The Vi Response Function: With-In Session Prospective And Retrospective Efffects, James Dougan, Alfred Kuh, K. Vink Oct 1993

Session Duration And The Vi Response Function: With-In Session Prospective And Retrospective Efffects, James Dougan, Alfred Kuh, K. Vink

James Dougan

Two experiments examined the effects of session duration on responding during simple variable-interval schedules. In Experiment 1, rats were exposed to a series of simple variable-interval schedules differing in both session duration (10 min or 30 min) and scheduled reinforcement rate (7.5 s,15 s, 30 s, and 480 s). The functions relating response rate to reinforcement rate were predominantly monotonic for the short (10-min) sessions but were predominantly bitonic for the long (30-min) sessions, when data from the entire session were considered. Examination of responding within sessions suggested that differences in the whole-session data were produced by a combination of …


Inelastic Supply: An Economic Approach To Simple Interval Schedule, James Dougan Dec 1991

Inelastic Supply: An Economic Approach To Simple Interval Schedule, James Dougan

James Dougan

Economic theory predicts an inverse relationship between the quantity of a commodity supplied to the marketplace and the equilibrium market price of that commodity. This prediction was tested in three experiments. Pigeons responded on simple variable-interval schedules, and quantity of reinforcement supplied was varied in a different way in each experiment. In Experiment 1, quantity supplied was varied by manipulating reinforcement rate while keeping session length constant. In Experiment 2, quantity supplied was varied by manipulating reinforcement rate while keeping reinforcers per session constant. In Experiment 3, quantity supplied was varied by manipulating reinforcer magnitude while keeping number of reinforcers …


The Autoshaping Procedure As A Residual Block Clock, James Dougan, James Dinsmoor, John Pfister, Edda Thiels Dec 1991

The Autoshaping Procedure As A Residual Block Clock, James Dougan, James Dinsmoor, John Pfister, Edda Thiels

James Dougan

In the first experiment, 4 pigeons were each presented with a recurring sequence of four key colors followed by the delivery of grain (block clock). Once the rate of pecking had stabilized, three of the colors were replaced, during different series of sessions, by a darkening of the key. The rate of pecking was reduced within those segments of the interval between deliveries of food during which the key was dark; when the key was dark during the final portion of the interval, rates were reduced throughout the entire interval. In the second experiment, 3 new pigeons were exposed to …


The Generalized Matching Law As A Description Of Multiple-Schedule Responding, James Dougan, Frances Mcsweeney, Valeri Farmer, J. Whipple Dec 1985

The Generalized Matching Law As A Description Of Multiple-Schedule Responding, James Dougan, Frances Mcsweeney, Valeri Farmer, J. Whipple

James Dougan

The literature was examined to determine how well the generalized matching law (Baum, 1974) describes multiple-schedule responding. In general, it describes the data well, accounting for a median of 91% of the variance. The median size of the undermatching parameter was 0.46; the median bias parameter was 1.00. The size of the undermatching parameter, and the proportion of the variance accounted for by the equation, varied inversely with the number of schedules conducted, with the number of sessions conducted per schedule, and with the time within a component. The undermatching parameter also varied with the operanda used to produce reinforcers …


Simple Schedule And Signal-Key Multiple Schedule Responding And Behavioral Contrast, James Dougan, Frances K. Mcsweeney, Valerie A. Farmer Dec 1985

Simple Schedule And Signal-Key Multiple Schedule Responding And Behavioral Contrast, James Dougan, Frances K. Mcsweeney, Valerie A. Farmer

James Dougan

Pigeons' rates of responding on simple schedules appearing alone or as components of signal-key multiple schedules were not systematically different early in training, but were different later in training. This suggests that a simple schedule may be an appropriate baseline from which to measure behavioral contrast. Positive behavioral contrast, like the present differences between simple and multiple schedule responding, does not appear when naive subjects respond on signal-key multiple schedules, but does appear when experimentally experienced subjects are used.


Behavioral Contrast In Competitive And Non-Competitive Environments, James Dougan, Frances Mcsweeney, Valeri Farmer-Dougan Dec 1985

Behavioral Contrast In Competitive And Non-Competitive Environments, James Dougan, Frances Mcsweeney, Valeri Farmer-Dougan

James Dougan

Three experiments examined the effects of opportunities for an alternative response (drinking) on positive behavioral contrast of rats' food-reinforced bar pressing. In both Experiments I and 2 the baseline multiple variable-interval schedules were rich (variable interval 10-s), and contrast was examined both with and without a water bottle present. In Experiment 1, the rats were not water deprived. When one component of the multiple schedule was changed to extinction, the rate of bar pressing increased in the constant component (positive behavioral contrast). The magnitude of contrast was larger when the bottle was absent than when it was present, as predicted …


Some Parameters Of Behavioral Contrast And Allocation Of Interim Behavior In Rats, James Dougan, Frances Mcsweeney, Valeri Farmer Dec 1984

Some Parameters Of Behavioral Contrast And Allocation Of Interim Behavior In Rats, James Dougan, Frances Mcsweeney, Valeri Farmer

James Dougan

Two experiments examined the effects of baseline reinforcement rate and component duration on behavioral contrast and on re-allocation of interim behavior in rats. Positive behavioral contrast occurred during multiple variable-interval 10-second extinction (VI 10 EXT) after a multiple VI 10 VI 10 baseline condition, but not during multiple VI 60 EXT following multiple VI 60 VI 60 baseline. Component duration had no significant effect on contrast. These results differed from those found in studies of pigeons' key pecking. Contrast was accompanied by an increased rate of drinking in the changed component, but drinking in the constant component did not decrease. …


Variation In Herrnsein’S R0 As A Function Of Alternative Reinforcement Rate, James Dougan, Frances K. Mcsweeney Dec 1984

Variation In Herrnsein’S R0 As A Function Of Alternative Reinforcement Rate, James Dougan, Frances K. Mcsweeney

James Dougan

In a test of Herrnstein's (1970, 1974) equation for simple schedules, 15 pigeons pecked a key that produced food delivered according to variable-interval schedules. One group of birds was water deprived, and food-reinforced key pecking occurred in the presence of free water. Two other groups were not water deprived; water was present for one and absent for the other. As predicted by Herrnstein, the parameter ro was significantly higher in the water-deprived group than in the two nondeprived groups. Contrary to Herrnstein's interpretation of ro, the rate of drinking varied across schedules. Herrnstein's interpretation can be salvaged …