Zarcone, T. J., Branch, M. N., Hughes, C. E., & Pennypacker, H. S. (1997).
Key pecking during extinction after intermittent or continuous reinforcement as a function of the number of reinforcers delivered during training.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
67, 91-108.
Key pecking by 7 pigeons was established and maintained on a
multiple variable-ratio variable-ratio (VR) schedule of food
presentation. The schedule in one of the components was then
changed to fixed-ratio (FR) 1 for a predetermined number of
reinforcers. Both components were then changed to extinction
(i.e., multiple extinction, extinction). This sequence was
repeated a different number of times for each pigeon to determine
the relation between the number of reinforcers delivered during
each component of the multiple VR FR 1 schedule and the number of
responses during extinction. For most pigeons, there were fewer
responses during extinction in the presence of a stimulus
recently correlated with FR 1, regardless of the number of
reinforcers received. The ratio of the total responses in
extinction in the former VR component to the total responses in
the former FR 1 component increased as the number of reinforcers
delivered during each component of the multiple schedule
increased. Within-subject replications of the
partial-reinforcement extinction effect generally occurred, and
there were no overall reductions in the number of responses in
extinction with repeated exposures to extinction.
Key words: partial-reinforcement extinction effect, continuous
reinforcement, variable-ratio reinforcement, extinction,
behavioral momentum, key peck, pigeons