Abstract
Gerbils were examined in an operant situation on ratio schedules of reinforcement. The operant reinforced was the barpress and reinforcement was either water or Noyes pellets. Previous studies had suggested the gerbil might be difficult to condition for food due to high activity levels; however, gerbils were shown to barpress as satisfactorily as rats for both food and water on FR and VR schedules. Terminal response rates of one to three per second were obtained on FR > 50 in the gerbil.
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Thanks are due Dr. Donald Novin for his thoughtful consideration and editorial assistance in preparation of the manuscript. He also sponsors and takes full editorial responsibility for this paper.
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Vanderweele, D.A., Abelson, R.M. & Tellish, J.A. A comparison of ratio behavior in the gerbil and white rat. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 1, 62–64 (1973). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03333341
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03333341