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Articles 31 - 41 of 41

Full-Text Articles in Experimental Analysis of Behavior

Behavioral Functions Of Stimuli Correlated With Transitions Between Rich And Lean Schedules Of Reinforcement, Cory Whirtley Jan 2020

Behavioral Functions Of Stimuli Correlated With Transitions Between Rich And Lean Schedules Of Reinforcement, Cory Whirtley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Disruptions in operant behavior in the form of extended pausing reliably occur when there is a discriminable transition from a relatively rich schedule of reinforcement to a relatively lean schedule (i.e., a rich-lean transition). The present experiments assessed the reinforcing and aversive functions of the stimuli correlated with the transitions between rich and lean schedules using observing and escape procedures. In both experiments, pigeons’ key pecks were reinforced with food on a compound schedule with two FR components. Completing the FR in the rich component produced a large reinforcer; completing the FR in the lean component produced a small reinforcer. …


Behavioral Impairment Following Gestational Exposure To Titanium Dioxide Nanomaterial Aerosols In Male And Female Rats, Matthew Leland Eckard Jan 2019

Behavioral Impairment Following Gestational Exposure To Titanium Dioxide Nanomaterial Aerosols In Male And Female Rats, Matthew Leland Eckard

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are beginning to be recognized as hazardous to human and animal health. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is primarily used as a whitening agent in paints, plastics, and sunscreens. While relatively inert in its bulk form, nano-TiO2 (diameter) can produce prolonged inflammation and oxidative stress in target tissue. Recently, the potential for nano-TiO2 to cause neuroinflammation and damage has heightened concerns about its continued use. One important concern is that nano-TiO2, and other metal oxide ENMs, may affect fetal neurodevelopment. Accordingly, it is imperative to screen ENMs, like TiO2, for possible neurotoxicity following developmental exposures. The current set of …


Resurgence Of Academic Responses, Catherine Louise Stephens Jan 2019

Resurgence Of Academic Responses, Catherine Louise Stephens

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Resurgence is the recurrence of a previously reinforced response after a more recently reinforced response is placed on extinction. Resurgence may explain the recurrence of socially appropriate behavior, including academic responding, but this had not yet been empirically demonstrated. The aim of this study was to determine if resurgence would occur when a participant solved quadratic equations using multiple methods. Each participant was taught two methods of solving quadratic equations across experimental phases, followed by a phase in which neither method resulted in the correct solution. In the first phase, only simple factoring was reinforced. In the second phase, only …


Probability Discounting Of Lewis And Fischer 344 Rats: Strain Comparisons At Baseline And Following Acute Administration Of D-Amphetamine, Jenny E. Ozga Jan 2019

Probability Discounting Of Lewis And Fischer 344 Rats: Strain Comparisons At Baseline And Following Acute Administration Of D-Amphetamine, Jenny E. Ozga

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Risky choice can be defined as choice for a larger, uncertain reinforcer over a smaller, certain reinforcer when choosing the smaller alternative maximizes reinforcement. Risky choice is studied using various procedures in the animal laboratory; one such procedure is called probability discounting. There are many variables that contribute to risky decision-making, including biological and pharmacological determinants. The present study assessed both of these variables by evaluating dose-response effects of d-amphetamine on risky choice of Lewis (LEW) and Fischer 344 (F344) rats. The probability-discounting procedure included discrete-trials choices between one food pellet delivered 100% of the time and three food …


Determinants Of Control-Key Responding In An Operant Resurgence Procedure, Anthony C. Oliver Jan 2019

Determinants Of Control-Key Responding In An Operant Resurgence Procedure, Anthony C. Oliver

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The Control response in a resurgence procedure has been described as the “gold standard” in isolating resurgence from other extinction-induced phenomena. Although Control responding is not generally observed during the resurgence test phase of animal-resurgence procedures, it is common to see such responding in human-operant resurgence procedures. Thus, it is necessary to identify the conditions under which Control responding may be observed. Using pigeons and rats as subjects, the current series of experiments examined the determinants of Control-operandum responding in a resurgence procedure. Experiment 1 assessed whether behavior with a pre-experimental reinforcement history would resurge if the Target response was …


Effects Of Teacher Training In Trial-Based Functional Analysis Via Video Modeling, Mary Haspel Jan 2019

Effects Of Teacher Training In Trial-Based Functional Analysis Via Video Modeling, Mary Haspel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Trial-based functional analysis (TBFA) is an efficient strategy for assessing challenging behavior in the classroom and a necessary step in developing effective functional assessment- based interventions (FABI). However, researchers have identified several barriers limiting the applicability of this practice in schools, including difficulty in (a) training teachers to mastery; (b) assessing whether teachers can implement this practice independently, with fidelity, in natural settings; and (c) determining whether teachers can use functional analysis (FA) to identify functions of problem behavior and develop effective interventions. This study will address these gaps in the literature by using a novel approach for training teachers …


Mirror, Mirror In The Chamber: Effects Of Social Stimuli On Operant Behavior, Michael Steele Yencha Jan 2019

Mirror, Mirror In The Chamber: Effects Of Social Stimuli On Operant Behavior, Michael Steele Yencha

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The variables affecting social behavior are myriad, making the prediction and control of behavior occurring in social contexts relatively difficult. One can attempt to create a controlled social context in the laboratory by introducing a second organism into an operant chamber. To investigate effects of social stimuli on operant responding, key pecking responses of three pigeons were maintained on a variable-interval (VI) schedule of reinforcement in Experiment 1, and the key pecking responses of three additional pigeons were maintained on a three-component multiple schedule in Experiment 2. The components included a variable-ratio (VR) schedule, a fixed-interval (FI) schedule, and a …


The Punitive Effect Of Electric Shock In Rats In Relation To The Rate Of Food Reinforcement, Vincent A. Bello Jan 2018

The Punitive Effect Of Electric Shock In Rats In Relation To The Rate Of Food Reinforcement, Vincent A. Bello

Capstones and Honors Theses

The purpose of the present experiment was to examine effects of the rate of reinforcement on the punitive function of shock for 4 rats. In baseline conditions, rats’ lever presses were reinforced with food according to a VI schedule. During punishment conditions, a VR-5 schedule of shock punishment was superimposed on the VI schedule. Across pairs of baseline and punishment conditions, the rate of reinforcement ranged from 0.5 to 6 food deliveries per min. Response rates during the baseline and punishment conditions generally increased as the reinforcement rate was raised for two out of four rats. For three rats, suppression …


Delay Discounting And Cannabinoid Enzyme Inhibitors, Devin Andrew Galdieri Jan 2018

Delay Discounting And Cannabinoid Enzyme Inhibitors, Devin Andrew Galdieri

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Delay discounting is a measure of impulsive choice that is correlated with maladaptive behavior and psychological disorders. Disruptions to serotonin and dopamine pathways can cause changes in delay discounting, as can lesions to the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens. The endocannabinoid system modulates other neurotransmitter systems, including dopamine and serotonin pathways. Cannabinoid receptors type 1 are found in relatively high concentrations in the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex. These receptors are activated by endogenous cannabinoids, which are synthesized on demand and broken down by catabolic enzymes. The action of these enzymes can be inhibited by a class of drugs …


Effects Of Delay And Signals On Choice Between Delayed Food Alone And Immediate Food With Delayed Shock, Forrest James Toegel Jan 2018

Effects Of Delay And Signals On Choice Between Delayed Food Alone And Immediate Food With Delayed Shock, Forrest James Toegel

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Much of the research in the area of self-control has examined choice between small immediate reinforcers and large delayed reinforcers, but many problems result from situations in which a single choice produces consequences of conflicting valence: Those in which the immediate outcome is reinforcing and the delayed outcome is aversive. Recent research has evaluated how preference for a large reinforcer which is followed by a delayed shock changes as a function of the delay to shock and how the intensity and duration of delayed shock affects the value of a large reinforcer. The present set of experiments investigated how the …


Effects Of Reinforcement Rate On The Aversive Function Of Timeout From Positive Reinforcement, Cory Whirtley Jan 2018

Effects Of Reinforcement Rate On The Aversive Function Of Timeout From Positive Reinforcement, Cory Whirtley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Although the use of timeout from positive reinforcement is widespread and has been shown to be an effective punisher in clinical settings, the factors responsible for its effectiveness are not fully understood. The present experiment was designed to evaluate one of these factors, the reinforcement rate underway during periods of time-in. Rats’ lever pressing was maintained on variable-interval schedules of food reinforcement in a multiple schedule with two components. In one component, no timeouts were delivered. In the other component, when a variable-ratio schedule was met, lever presses were followed by a 30-s timeout during which a tone sounded, the …