Conditions influencing the cessation of eating in the presence of food.
Item
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Title
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Conditions influencing the cessation of eating in the presence of food.
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Identifier
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AAI8914748
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identifier
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8914748
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Creator
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Gahles, Lorraine Ann.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Brett K. Cole
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Date
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1988
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Experimental
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Abstract
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The conditions influencing the cessation of eating were explored using a discrete trial training procedure in which the subject was required, in the presence of discriminative stimuli, to put its head into the hopper opening and take it out. A sequence of two successive repetitions of this head-in/head-out response was followed by the presentation of a keylight. Pecking the lighted key resulted in a 3 second presentation of a grain-filled hopper (Sr). Each food presentation was followed by an intertrial interval (ITI) of 3 seconds during which all lights were extinguished. In an attempt to increase the probability of head withdrawal in the presence of food, several contingencies were imposed. First, correct withdrawals always resulted in the opportunity to peck and be reinforced, while failures to withdraw never resulted in this opportunity. Further, failure to withdraw produced a correction trial in which the head-in/out response was required in the absence of food and was followed by the opportunity to peck and be reinforced. In addition, failures to withdraw could, under some conditions, result in the onset of a 40 second ITI followed by a correction trial.;Experimental conditions varied the probability of food insertion during the 2nd link of the trial (p =.25 or 1.0) and the duration of the ITI following a 2nd link limited hold error (nonwithdrawal from food) at 40 or 3 seconds. These contingencies were presented at various stages of training.;Ten pigeons were randomly divided into three groups of 3, 3 and 4 subjects each. Group 1 (3 subjects) received a.25 probability of food insertion in the 2nd link with a 3 second ITI during the first exposure to food in link 2. Group 2 (3 subjects) received a 1.0 probability of food insertion in the 2nd link with a 3 second ITI during the first exposure to food in link 2. Group 3 (4 subjects) received a 1.0 probability of food insertion in the 2nd link with a 40 second ITI for a limited hold food error during the first exposure to food in link 2.;Results indicated that the highest relative frequency of correct withdrawals from food was seen during the 1st exposure to food in link 2 when the 1.0 probability of food insertion during the 2nd link was combined with the 40 second ITI for a limited hold food error.;It was concluded that partial control over cessation of eating can be obtained by employing delayed consequences for non-cessation of eating (extended 40 second ITI for a limited hold food error) during the first condition of exposure to food in link 2.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
