Abstract
The relationship between the duration of stimuli and their conditioned reinforcing effect was investigated using a learning-tests procedure. In Experiment 1, stimuli were the same duration on training (stimulus → reward) and test (choice response → stimulus). Ten- and 30-sec stimuli provided effective differential conditioned reinforcement but 3-sec stimuli did not. In Experiment 2, different pigeons had each combination of the 3- and 30-sec stimuli on training and test trials. Evidence of conditioned reinforcement was obtained only for the birds with 30-sec stimuli on both training and test. The results were interpreted as indicating that stimuli become effective conditioned reinforcers on test trials only when their duration exceeds the duration of differential short-term memory cues resulting from a difference in the events that precede them on training and test trials.
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Experiment 1 was conducted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for S.L.A.’s MA degree.
Article accepted by previous editor, Robert C. Bolles
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Astley, S.L., Perkins, C.C. Stimulus duration and conditioned reinforcing value measured by a learning-tests procedure. Animal Learning & Behavior 13, 18–24 (1985). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03213360
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03213360