Operant Behavior in Vegetative Patients II

Abstract

Reports on operant conditioning of profoundly retarded (vegetative) patients are rare in the literature. These patients deviate from normal on scales of intelligence by six or more standard deviations below the mean. In terms of general behavorial functioning they require total nursing care. These patients also deviate from the typical behavior expected in an operant situation. The present paper describes in detail observations in an operant setting on two patients, studied over an extended period of time; although the procedures are less standardized than those for other populations. The specialized techniques developed thus far are described, as are some deviations from typical operant behavior findings. The central problem remains the determination of an adequate re-inforcing stimulus for each individual patient.