Abstract
In Experiment 1, three groups of 10 rats each received 4 trials/day on schedules of partial reinforcement under which the percentage of reinforcement associated with each successive serial trial position within days increased across trials (Group I), decreased across trials (Group D), or varied according to a U-shaped function (Group U). Three of the four daily trials occurred in one (e.g., black) runway, and one trial each day, called a probe trial, occurred in another (e.g., white) runway. Within blocks of 4 days, the probe trial occurred in each of the four possible serial positions. As the probe trial rotated through Positions 1-4, speeds on that trial increased in Group I, decreased in Group D, and varied according to a U-shaped function in Group U. Experiment 2 employed two groups of 10 rats each, Groups I and D, and demonstrated that the patterning behavior obtained in those groups in Experiment 1 was a reliable phenomenon. The results are discussed in relation to response patterning as a function of variations in reward magnitude across trials and a putative ability of the rat to keep track of serial trial position by counting.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Reference Note
Davis, H. Can rats count to three? Paper presented to the annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Philadelphia, November 1981.
References
Bloom, J. M., & Capaldi, E. J. The behavior of rats in relation to complex patterns of partial reinforcement. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1961, 54, 261–265.
Bloom, J. M., Williams, D. T., & Metze, L. P. Effects of varied and partial reward on discrete-trial patterning of rats. Animal Learning & Behavior, 1973, 1, 167–170.
Capaldi, E. J. Latent discrimination learning under a regular schedule of partial reinforcement. Animal Learning & Behavior, 1979, 7, 63–68.
Capaldi, E. J., Blitzer, R. D., & Molina, P. Serial anticipation pattern learning in two-element and three-element series. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 1979, 14, 22–24.
Capaldi, E. J., & Molina, P. Element discriminability as a determinant of serial-pattern learning. Animal Learning & Behavior, 1979, 7, 318–322.
Capaldi, E. J., & Morris, M. D. Reward schedule effects in extinction: Intertrial interval, memory and memory retrieval. Learning and Motivation, 1974, 5, 473–483.
Capaldi, E. J., & Verry, D. R. Serial order anticipation learning in rats: Memory for multiple hedonic events and their order. Animal Learning & Behavior, 1981, 9, 441–453.
Haggbloom, S. J. The differential reinforcement of reward-produced and response-produced stimuli. Learning and Motivation, 1979, 10, 364–381.
Haggbloom, S. J. Resistance to discrimination and subsequent resistance to extinction as a function of the sequence of partial S + reward in differential conditioning. Animal Learning & Behavior, 1980, 8, 441–446.
Haggbloom, S. J. Blocking in successive differential conditioning: Prior acquisition of control by internal cues blocks the acquisition of control by brightness. Learning and Motivation, 1981, 12, 485–508.
Haggbloom, S. J., & Tillman, D. J. Sequential Effects on discrimination reversal. Learning and Motivation, 1980, 11, 318–338.
Hulse, S. H. Cognitive structure and serial pattern learning by rats. In S. H. Hulse, H. Fowler, & W. K. Honig (Eds.), Cognitive processes in animal behavior. Hillsdale, N.J: Erlbaum, 1978.
McHose, J. H., & Blackwell, D. R. Performance in differential instrumental conditioning as a function of the pattern of partial S+ reward. Animal Learning & Behavior, 1975, 3, 63–66.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Experiment 1 was presented to the meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, May 1979, St. Louis. These experiments were supported by grants from Arkansas State University to the senior author. The authors wish to thank John K. Beadles for the use of laboratory space in the Department of Biology.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Haggbloom, S.J., Hollingshead, T.A. Response patterning as a function of the percentage of reinforcement associated with serial trial position. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 19, 291–294 (1982). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330261
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03330261