Lieving, G. A., & Lattal, K. A. (2003).
Recency, repeatability, and reinforcer retrenchment: An experimental analysis of resurgence.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
80, 217-233.
Four experiments were conducted with pigeons to assess the
experimental conditions necessary for the occurrence of
resurgence. The general procedure consisted of the following
conditions: Condition 1 - reinforcement of key pecking; Condition
2 - reinforcement of treadle pressing and concurrent extinction
of key pecking; and Condition 3 - the resurgence condition
wherein resurgence was defined as the recovery of key pecking. In
Experiments 1 and 2, the resurgence condition was conventional
extinction. The effect of recency on resurgence magnitude was
examined in Experiment 1 by manipulating the number of sessions
of Condition 2, above. Resurgence was not a function of recency
with the parameters used. Repeating the three conditions revealed
resurgence to be a repeatable effect in Experiment 2. In
Experiment 3, a variable-time schedule was in effect for the
resurgence condition. Resurgence was not produced by
response-independent food delivery. In Experiment 4, the
resurgence condition was a variable-interval schedule for treadle
pressing that arranged a lower reinforcement rate than in
Condition 2 (92% reduction in reinforcers per minute). Resurgence
was lower in magnitude relative to conventional extinction,
although resurgence was obtained with 2 out of 3 pigeons. The
results are discussed in terms of the variables controlling
resurgence and the relations between behavioral history,
resurgence, and other forms of response recovery.
Key words: resurgence, extinction, response recovery, behavioral history, treadle, key peck, pigeon