Initial-link duration and acquisition of preference in concurrent chains |
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| Authors: | Mark E Berg Randolph C Grace |
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| Institution: | University of Canterbury, Department of Psychology, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand. bmark3@xtra.co.nz |
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| Abstract: | Initial-link response allocation in concurrent chains becomes less extreme as the absolute duration of the initial links increases
(Fantino, 1969). The present study asked whether initial-link duration affected how quickly response allocation reached asymptote
(i.e., acquisition of preference). Six pigeons were trained on a concurrent-chains procedure in which the terminal links were
fixed-interval (FI) 8 sec FI 16 sec or FI 16 sec FI 8 sec and were reversed every 20 sessions. Across conditions, all possible
combinations of transitions between variable-interval (VI) 8-sec (short) and VI 24-sec (long) initial-link schedules were
studied. Overall, the rate of acquisition was faster when the durations of the initial links preceding the reversal were short
rather than long, and when the durations of the initial links following the reversal were long rather than short. By contrast,
initial-link duration had no effect on acquisition or asymptotic measures of temporal control of terminal-link responding.
These results support the core principle of delay-reduction theory (Fantino, 1969) that the impact of a conditioned reinforcer
varies directly with initial-link duration, but also suggest that temporal learning during the terminal links proceeds independently
of initial-link duration. nt]mis|These data were presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis,
Boston, May 2004. |
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