Discrimination of a response-independent component in a multiple schedule

Abstract

Pigeons were trained to respond in non-differential reinforcement pre-discrimination training, with a multiple variable-interval 1-min variable-interval 1-min schedule. Each bird then received discrimination training with a multiple variable-interval 1-min variable-time 1-min schedule. Thus, discrimination training was between response-dependent (variable-interval) and response-independent (variable-time) schedules with the rate of reinforcement equated. In Experiment I, only three sessions of non-differential reinforcement preceded discrimination training and for half the birds, a 0 degrees line was correlated with the response-dependent schedule; for the remaining birds the 0 degrees line was correlated with the response-independent schedule. Post-discrimination gradients of excitatory stimulus control were obtained from the former group, while the latter group showed little evidence of post-discrimination stimulus control by the 0 degrees line. Differential responding to the variable-time schedule was not accompanied by behavioral contrast to the variable-interval schedule. In Experiment II, 20 sessions of non-differential reinforcement preceded discrimination training and the 0 degrees line was correlated with variable-time reinforcement for each bird. Differential responding to the 0 degrees line was accompanied by negative induction to the variable-interval schedule and by inhibitory stimulus control about the 0 degrees line during a post-discrimination generalization test.