Auto Shaping: The Conditions Necessary for Its Development and Maintenance

Abstract

Twelve naive pigeons were tested during two sessions of 80 key light trials, 8 sec. in duration, presented on a non-contingent VI−1 schedule. After two hopper-training periods the Ss were again presented with two sessions of key light only trials. Prior to hopper training none of the Ss pecked, but after training eight Ss pecked within the first two trials, one pecked during the 16th trial and one during the 83rd trial. Two never pecked the lit key. Four Ss were then tested during sessions in which both the key light and hopper were presented but never paired (forward pairing). This procedure was not sufficient to maintain key pecking. Non-contingent forward-pairings of key light and hopper presentations resulted in both a reacquisition and maintenance of the key peck. It ways concluded that pairing of the key fight and hopper presentation were not necessary for acquisition of the key peck but were necessary to maintain the behavior.