Abstract
Rats obtained food pellets by lever pressing on a variable interval (VI) schedule or obtained them freely on a variable time (VT) schedule. Alternation of schedule components occurred when the rat emitted a changeover response on one of the two response levers in the chamber. In Experiment 1, the work (VI) lever retracted on entry into the VT component. Rats which had access to the changeover lever from the beginning of VI training showed a strong preference for free food (VT component). Rats which received 13 days of VI training prior to access to changeover lever showed a slight preference for work (VI component). If the work lever did not retract (Experiment 2) on entry into the VT component, the results were essentially the same.
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Jackson, D.E., Olson, D. Rats Show a Component Preference on a Multiple Variable Interval Variable Time Schedule for Food. Psychol Rec 31, 255–263 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394738
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394738