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Strength Of An Established Taste Aversion As A Function Of A Tap Or Distilled Water Adaptation Period, Frank Etscorn

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Studies in taste aversion learning are typically of the following designs An animal is made to consume a novel tasting substance (the conditioned stimulus) such as saccharin diluted in water. Following a specified length of time, the animal is then subjected to a gastrointestinal insult (the unconditioned stimulus) from such independent sources as X-ray overdose or poison injection. After the subject is allowed to recover from will made the ensuing illness, it can be observed that the animal avoid consuming the flavored substance if it available.

Increasing Resistance To The Negative Effects Of Set, Paul B. Chance

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Two experimental studies were reported in which attempts were made to increase resistance to the negative effects of set. Set interference was measured by performance on 1) a task in which a set was experimentally induced, 2) a series of problems presumed to involve implicit sets, and 3) a test of creativity presumed to involve implicit sets.

The experimental treatments consisted of tasks which required set-breaking. An important aspect of this research was that no hints or instructions concerning sets were provided.

The findings offer modest support for the view that learning experiences can be designed which will increase resistance …

The Effect Of Functional Cecotomy On Food And Water Intake In The Rat, Stephen P. Farr

Master's Theses

The effect of functional ceco tomy on ingestion and excretory behavior in the rat was viewed as a short term (ST) and long term (LT) stress adjustment. Findings in bo th ST and LT conditio ns were discussed in terms of the Mayerian parameters of precision, rapidity, sensitivity, and reliability. Under functional cecotomy water intake, fecal moisture content and dry fecal weight increased. Food intake remained constant. Stress adjustment in terms of the 4 parameters of ST and LT regulation were discussed as correlations and their accompanying standard errors over daily, 3-day, and 7-day time intervals. The standard error s …

Data On Behavioral And Developmental Patterns In Monkeys And Humans Found To Be Similar, Michael L. Niehoff

Student Scholarship

This document explores the striking similarities between the behavioral and developmental patterns of infant rhesus monkeys and human infants, specifically focusing on the detrimental effects of social and maternal deprivation. A significant portion of the research presented is derived from the laboratory experiments of Harry Harlow, who utilized surrogate mothers made of wire or cloth to study the origins of affectional patterns. These studies identified three primary primate reflexes—the contact-clasp, righting, and sucking reflexes—that establish the initial tie between mother and infant. The research demonstrates that "contact comfort" provided by a cloth surrogate acts as a psychological base of operations, …

The Effects Of Direction Of Grouping, Type Of Stimuli, And Class Level On Cognitive Equivalence Transformations, Christopher A. Joseph

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The major purpose of this investigation was to study the structure, attributes, and supplemental aspects of equivalence classifying of words and pictures made by sixth graders, freshmen college students and junior and senior college students . A particular point of interest was whether or not increasing or decreasing the size of the groups results in different types of equivalence classifying. Other minor goals were to determine the effects of direction of grouping, type of stimuli, and class level on unique reasons produced and recall of stimuli.

The results of the study support the thesis that there is a cognitive developmental …

Effects Of Manipulating Fr Size And Reinforcement Magnitude In Multiple Fr Schedules, Dean P. Inman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Animals performing on simple fixed-ratio (FR) schedules typically pause after reinforcement delivery. The present study demonstrated systematic control of pause length in multiple fixed ratio schedules by manipulating FR size and reinforcement magnitude. In Experiment I, two adult male rabbits were stabilized on an alternating, two component, multiple FR 10 FR 10 schedule. Different colored lights were correlated with both FR components. Stability was determined and mean pause lengths were calculated as one FR component was increased in size until the schedule was FR 10 FR 50. Pausing was longer before the large FR component and was positively correlated with …

The Fixed-Interval Presentation Of A Small Fixed Ratio, Larry Allen Alferink

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In mixed fixed-ratio schedules, reinforcement is delivered according to two or more fixed-ratio components, which may be programmed in simple alternation or according to a random sequence. If the components simply alternate, the behavior is similar to that obtained in a multiple schedule. Pauses are long before long fixed ratios and short before short fixed ratios. If a random sequence is used, responding is characterized by short pauses after reinforcement independent of the size of the ratio and primes occur at the beginning of many of the fixed ratios. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possibility …

Conditioned Suppression In Humans As A Function Of Task Complexity, Henry H. James

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Operant And Classical Conditioning Of Single Units In Area 18a Of The Rat’S Cortex, Francis E. Butler

Masters Theses

The effect of the previous history of a single unit on its present firing pattern was studied using classical and operant conditioning. The units were in area 18a of the rat's cortex. It was found that there are polymodal units in that area. The firing pattern can be changed using classical conditioning. The rate of firing can be increased one standard deviation above the mean rate by reinforcing with brain stimulation. The rate can also be changed one standard deviation below the mean rate. This occurs when the trials come at a fixed time and when the trials come at …

The Shaping Of Verbal Imitation And Multiple Effects Of Aversive Schedules For Controlling Inattention In An Infant, Leta Hunt Secker

Masters Theses

A six-month-old infant was conditioned to imitate four verbal cues presented by an adult experimenter by using food as a reinforcer. Aversive schedules (escape-avoidance of, or punishment with a loud buzzer) were then introduced to suppress inattentive behavior. Inattention defined as looking away from the investigator, crying, rate of vocalizations, and accuracy of imitations were measured. Three conclusions of the experiment were: 1) verbal imitation can be shaped and maintained through positive reinforcement; 2) the use of aversive schedules is not necessarily beneficial for the performance of the imitative task, or for the general well-being of the child.

Schedule Effects On Individual And Paired Escape Behavior Of Albino Rats, Anton P. Colasacco

Masters Theses

In Experiment I, the effects of low fixed ratios on individual escape behavior of rats was studied. When FR sessions were compared to CRF sessions, measures related to shock delivery showed highest percentage increases, especially at FR-5.

Animals were then paired. Two schedules were analyzed as alternatives to individual escape. In Experiment II, shock was terminated when a specified FR was completed, either by the responses of one animal or by the total responses of both animals. Escape as a function of both animals responding was not maintained. In Experiment III, shock was terminated individually as before, or when both …

Personal Space As A Function Of Repression-Sensitization, Sensation-Seeking And The Stigmatized Characteristics Of A Target Person, Howard M. Johnson

Student Work

The concept of personal space has been an unregarded sociological and psychological dimension. Probably the work of animal ethologists has done more to generate interest in spacing and territoriality than any other group of behavioral investigators. The characteristics of individual space in animals has been studied by Hediger (1950, 1955, 1961). From Hediger 's import ant work, research in the area of personal space in humans has evolved.

Vocational Satisfaction Among Roman Catholic Priests, Thomas W. Rueth

Dissertations

The study was designed to investigate the theory that individuals who believe their environment to be compatible with their own self-concept will be happy and satisfied in that environment. Individuals who view their environment to be inconsistent with their self-concept will be dissatisfied and wish to leave that environment. A sample of Roman Catholic priests rated the concepts, self, ideal-self and the Church on an adapted semantic differential scale. Difference scores were cal-culated for each subject for three concept pairs: self-ideal-self, self-church, and ideal-self-church. In addition the subjects responded to three measures of adjustment; a sentence completion form, a standardized …

The Effect Of Progesterone On Food And Water Intake And Weight In The Adult Male Rats After Stomach Loads Of Hypertonic Saline, Michael D. Smith

Master's Theses

Eight adult male albino rats were randomly assigned to each treatment condition of progesterone injections (0,10,40, and ·100 mg/kg/day dissolved in Bee of sesame seed oil), and all 2s received a hypertonic NaCl stomach loading. A control group for procedural effects was given injections of sesame seed oil alone and isotonic NaCl stomach loads. The dependent variables were body weight, food intake and water intake. Single factor analyses of covariance revealed a significant difference between the 0 mg progesterone group and the control group for food and water intake but not weight. No significant differences were found in food and …

Effects Of Reinforcement Schedules On The Eating Behavior Of Hooded Rats, Wayne T. Pratt

All Master's Theses

While the eating behavior of organisms has been the subject of considerable research, the methods commonly employed to disrupt eating behavior also result in irreparable damage to the central nervous system. This paper presents an attempt to evaluate some effects of reinforcement schedules on the eating behavior of hooded rats when external motivating factors were introduced.

The results indicated that stress tended to inhibit food intake to a significant degree.

Problems associated with this method of creating obesity were discussed and suggestions offered for further research.

Transfer Of Active Avoidance Response Tendency By Brain Extract, Marlene Sanders

All Master's Theses

Interanimal memory transfer was tested using an active avoidance task in which donor rats were trained to jump onto a platform to avoid a footshock. One control group was allowed to freely explore the experimental chamber and a second control group received footshock in the chamber but without the opportunity to avoid.

Results indicated that recipients of trained donor extract learned the task in significantly fewer trials than recipients of control donor extract. Suggestions for further research and modifications of this study were discussed.

Food Intake In Rats As A Function Of Shock-Avoiding Eating Behavior, Kathleen A. Carlton

All Master's Theses

Consumption of a liquid nutrient by rats under several different circumstances was studied. A restraining apparatus and tailshock were used to train one group to lick a drinkometer tube, creating a forced drinking situation. It was hypothesized that rats in this group would consume significantly more than Ss in the other three groups during a testing phase. The hypothesis was disconfirmed by statistical analysis, though there appeared to be a tendency for avoidance training to produce effective results.

The Fear Conditioning Cues Necessary For The Reinstatement Of Memory After Retrograde Amnesia Induced By Ecs Ina One Trial Fear Conditioning Paradigm, Thomas Martin Hopfer

All Master's Theses

Rats were trained in a one trial fear conditioning paradigm (tone paired with footshock) after they had been trained to drink from a water tube. Fear conditioned animals given ECS (TFS/ECS) showed fear responses, indistinguishable from similarly treated animals given no ECS (TFS/ECS), when administered post-treatment fear conditioning cues 96 and 97 hours after fear conditioning day and tested 120 hours after conditioning. In addition, amnesia was shown at the 120 hour test in the TFS/ECS animals that received no post-treatment fear conditioning cues compared to similarly treated TFS/NECS animals. Further, animals that received the same experimental treatments as the …

The Effects Of Electroconvulsive Shock Following Different Noncontingent Foot Shock Durations On A Conditioned Emotional Response, Carol Knobel

All Master's Theses

Varied lengths of noncontingent foot shock (NCFS) followed by an ECS or NO ECS were presented 24 hours after fear conditioning to investigate the state dependency hypothesis. The hypothesis that the NCFS would interact with ECS to produce a transient attenuation of fear conditioning was not supported. Results were discussed in terms of the possibility that the state dependency hypothesis applies only to certain levels of brain excitation when NCFS and ECS are used to induce brain state changes.

Titration Of Intertrial Interval In The Matching-To-Sample Paradigm, Gregory T. Hochstetter

Masters Theses

Investigators have used many different values for the ITI in investigating the variables in matching-to-sample. Holt and Shafer (1973), showed that the ITI itself influences matching performance. In the present experiment the titration method was employed to determine the optimal or "preferred" ITI for pigeons. Three Ss began each session with an ITI of 0 sec. Three other Ss began each session with an ITI of 60 sec. During the session two consecutive correct responses reduced the ITI by 2 secs while a single error would increase the ITI by 2 secs. The results showed that the 60 sec ITI …

Comparison Of American And Chinese College Students By Means Of The Holtzman Inkblot Technique, Te Jung Chang

Masters Theses

The major purpose of this study was to explore personality differences between American and Chinese college students.

Sixteen American college students and two groups of the same number of their Chinese counterparts, one of the Chinese student groups being in the United States for less than one year and the other group being in the United States for longer than two years, were randomly selected and matched by ages to be the subjects of this study.

The Holtzman Inkblot Technique (HIT) was administered to all forty-eight subjects by the author and the HIT protocols were scored by two different scorers …

The Effects Of Blindness On Tactile And Auditory Perception In Rats, James Malcolm Claiborn

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Folklore has long held that blind people gain, relative to normal people, in their sensitivity to other sensory modalities. Although supported only by equivocal evidence, this position probably first appeared in mythology in early Greek literature. Oedipus Rex was attributed greater awareness of people’s nature after this blindness. It is still a prevalent myth in contemporary American culture, to the extent that it appears in “Little Orphan Annie.” Experimental attempts at verification of this point began several years ago, but it remains a controversial issue. Literature on the topic can be divided up into several content areas: the relevance of …

The Relationship Between Linguistic Behavior And Diagnostic Classifications In The Language Processing Systems Of Bilingual Schizophrenics, Lee Sue Curry

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Both of these theoretical positions - the linguistics and the behavioristic - are introduced here as parallel structures within which a study of language can proceed. As this study is developed, each strand is evident to some extent, with a synthesis of the two evolving in a psycholinguistic model which characterizes actual language use. This model, with the addiction of a bilingual dimension, is then discussed in light of schizophrenic language deviations.

Color Perception In Golden Mantled Ground Squirrels, Robert F. Cooley

Dissertations and Theses

Squirrels appear to be unique among sub-primate mammals in being able to see at least some colors. A readily available Oregon squirrel species, golden mantled ground squirrels (Citellus lateralis), which has not previously been tested under laboratory conditions for color vision, was subjected to color discrimination testing in a Skinner box. On the basis of recent physiological tests of color reception capacity and behavioral tests of color discrimination response in closely related species, it was predicted that this species should be able to discriminate blue, green and possibly yellow, but not red. Three experiments were conducted. The first, a pilot …

The Development Of Social Interaction, Play, And Metacommunication In Mammals: An Ethological Perspective, Marc Bekoff

Ethology Collection

Analysis of the dynamics of the ontogeny of social interaction is of critical importance in order that behavioral development may be comprehended in its own right, and the relationship between infant and adult behavior understood. In this review, general concepts of behavioral development in mammals are discussed and analyzed, and the many variables that are involved are considered. When it is impossible to control or observe the social interaction of the developing organism in its natural environment, captive subjects should be used. There is increasing evidence that results obtained with the latter are related to social organization observed in the …

The Effects Of Reading A Report Of Racial Conflict And Non Racial Conflict On Baseline Hostility Levels, Michael D. Mcclenic

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Frequency Coding Theory Of Olfaction, William B. Stewart

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Imitation: Some Theoretical Issues, Charles Richard Spates

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Two Periods Of Light Deprivation On Bar Pressing In Rats, Edward R. Lyon

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Human Visual Observation As A Function Of Stimulus Change, Richard L. Crandall

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.