Snycerski, S., Laraway, S., Huitema, B. E., & Poling, A. (2004).
The effects of behavioral history on response acquisition with
immediate and delayed reinforcement.
Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
81, 51-64.
Effects of prior exposure to the experimental chamber with levers present or
absent and variable-time (VT) 60-s water deliveries arranged during one, five,
or no 1-hr sessions were examined in rats during a 6-hr response-acquisition
session in which presses on one lever produced water delivery immediately or
after a 15-s resetting delay, and presses on the other lever canceled scheduled
water deliveries. Response acquisition was (a) slower to occur when water
deliveries were delayed, (b) most consistent in groups that had received five VT
sessions, and (c) impaired by the presence of levers only when there had been
five VT sessions and water deliveries were delayed during the acquisition
session.
Key words: response acquisition, delayed reinforcement, magazine
training, behavioral history, operant conditioning, lever-press,
rats