The effects of noncontingent access to food on the rate of object mouthing across three settings.

Henry S. Roane, Markell L. Kelly, & Wayne W. Fisher (2003). The effects of noncontingent access to food on the rate of object mouthing across three settings. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 36, 579-582.

Object mouthing is associated with several potential deleterious side effects. In the current investigation, we modified the use of noncontingent access to competing items (food) and evaluated the effects of the treatment on object mouthing across three settings. Results demonstrated reductions in mouthing associated with the modified treatment.

DESCRIPTORS: automatic reinforcement, object mouthing, noncontingent reinforcement