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Within-Session Changes in Response Rate: Implications for Behavioral Pharmacology

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Abstract

An assumption inherent in the theory and practice of operant psychology is that response rate is relatively invariant during steady-state procedures. Recent research has refuted this assumption, demonstrating instead that response rate changes in a large and systematic fashion during many steady-state operant procedures. This finding mandates that operant researchers take into account these within-session changes in response rate when designing and conducting research. Because behavioral pharmacologists use operant techniques and principles, these within-session changes in response rate must be taken into account when conducting behavioral pharmacological research as well. This paper briefly reviews what is known about within-session response patterns and poses the question: Might similar factors contribute to within-session changes in response rate when both drug and nondrug reinforcers are used? Finally, the paper explores some implications of within-session changes in response rate for behavioral pharmacology

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wayne State University, University of Michigan, Substance Abuse Research Center, USA

    John M. Roll

  2. Washington State University, USA

    Frances K. McSweeney

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  1. John M. Roll
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Correspondence to John M. Roll.

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We thank Drs. Melville and Weatherly and Sheila Alessi for their helpful comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.

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Roll, J.M., McSweeney, F.K. Within-Session Changes in Response Rate: Implications for Behavioral Pharmacology. Psychol Rec 49, 15–32 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03395304

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