Kennedy, C. H., Meyer, K. A., Werts, M. G., & Cushing, L. S. (2000).
Effects of sleep deprivation on free-operant avoidance.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
73, 333-345.
Two studies examined effects of sleep deprivation on free-operant
avoidance by rats. In Experiment 1, a 5-s shock–shock (SS)
interval and 20-s response–shock (RS) interval produced
baseline performances, which were reestablished after each
experimental manipulation. Once baselines were established,
animals were exposed to 24, 48, or 96 hr of sleep deprivation and
equivalent periods of home cage and food restriction as a control
condition. Compared to baseline, sleep deprivation increased
response rates by increasing the proportion of brief
interresponse times (IRTs); response rates changed little in the
control conditions. Percentage of shocks avoided did not
systematically change across conditions. In Experiment 2, the RS
interval was manipulated (10, 20, and 40 s), while the SS
interval (5 s) and level of sleep deprivation (48 hr) were held
constant. Across RS intervals, sleep deprivation increased
response rates via a shift toward brief IRTs. In addition, sleep
deprivation increased the percentage of shocks avoided as an
inverse function of RS intervals.
Key words: sleep deprivation, avoidance, negative reinforcement,
lever press, rats