Reinforcer distributions affect timing in the free-operant psychophysical choice procedure

Cowie, S; Bizo, LA; White, KG

Reinforcer distributions affect timing in the free-operant psychophysical choice procedure

Cowie, S Bizo, LA White, KG

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Publisher:: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Learning and Motivation, 2016, 53, pp. 24-35
Issue Date:: 2016-02-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Cowie, S
dc.contributor.author	Bizo, LA
dc.contributor.author	White, KG
dc.date.accessioned	2022-08-13T21:44:44Z
dc.date.available	2022-08-13T21:44:44Z
dc.date.issued	2016-02-01
dc.identifier.citation	Learning and Motivation, 2016, 53, pp. 24-35
dc.identifier.issn	0023-9690
dc.identifier.issn	1095-9122
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/160103
dc.description.abstract	In procedures used to study timing behavior, the availability of reinforcement changes according to time since an event. Manipulation of this reinforcer differential often produces violations of scalar timing, but it is unclear whether such effects arise because of a response bias or a change in temporal discrimination. The present experiment investigated the effects of the overall and relative probability of obtaining a reinforcer on performance in the free-operant psychophysical procedure. We arranged short and long trials with unequal reinforcer ratios, at high or low overall reinforcer rates. Changes in the overall reinforcer rate produced only small changes in timing behavior. Changes in relative reinforcer probability, which caused differences in the likely availability of reinforcers across time within a trial, produced a change in both bias and discrimination. We suggest reinforcers affect timing, and that discrimination in timing tasks depends on the distribution of reinforcers in time, as well as on the interval to be timed.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
dc.relation.ispartof	Learning and Motivation
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.lmot.2015.10.003
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1303 Specialist Studies in Education, 1701 Psychology
dc.subject.classification	Behavioral Science & Comparative Psychology
dc.title	Reinforcer distributions affect timing in the free-operant psychophysical choice procedure
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	53
utslib.for	1303 Specialist Studies in Education
utslib.for	1701 Psychology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/School of International Studies
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-08-13T21:44:43Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	53

Abstract:

In procedures used to study timing behavior, the availability of reinforcement changes according to time since an event. Manipulation of this reinforcer differential often produces violations of scalar timing, but it is unclear whether such effects arise because of a response bias or a change in temporal discrimination. The present experiment investigated the effects of the overall and relative probability of obtaining a reinforcer on performance in the free-operant psychophysical procedure. We arranged short and long trials with unequal reinforcer ratios, at high or low overall reinforcer rates. Changes in the overall reinforcer rate produced only small changes in timing behavior. Changes in relative reinforcer probability, which caused differences in the likely availability of reinforcers across time within a trial, produced a change in both bias and discrimination. We suggest reinforcers affect timing, and that discrimination in timing tasks depends on the distribution of reinforcers in time, as well as on the interval to be timed.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/160103