Faculty Articles
Differences in the Effect of Pavlovian Contingencies upon Behavioral Momentum Using Auditory Versus Visual Stimuli
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
ISSN
0022-5002
Publication Date
3-1996
Abstract
We examined the role of Pavlovian and operant relations in behavioral momentum by arranging response-contingent alternative reinforcement in one component of a three-component multiple concurrent schedule with rats. This permitted the simultaneous arranging of different response—reinforcer (operant) and stimulus—reinforcer (Pavlovian) contingencies during three baseline conditions. Auditory or visual stimuli were used as discriminative stimuli within the multiple concurrent schedules. Resistance to change of a target response was assessed during a single session of extinction following each baseline condition. The rate of the target response during baseline varied inversely with the rate of response-contingent reinforcement derived from a concurrent source, regardless of whether the discriminative stimuli were auditory or visual. Resistance to change of the target response, however, did depend on the discriminative-stimulus modality. Resistance to change in the presence of visual stimuli was a positive function of the Pavlovian contingencies, whereas resistance to change was unrelated to either the operant or Pavlovian contingencies when the discriminative stimuli were auditory. Stimulus salience may be a factor in determining the differences in resistance to change across sensory modalities.
DOI
10.1901/jeab.1996.65-389
Volume
65
Issue
2
First Page
389
Last Page
399
NSUWorks Citation
Mauro, B. C.,
Mace, F. C.
(1996). Differences in the Effect of Pavlovian Contingencies upon Behavioral Momentum Using Auditory Versus Visual Stimuli. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 65(2), 389-399.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/445
