Control of responding by location of auditory stimuli: role of differential and non-differential reinforcement

Abstract

Sound was presented to monkeys through one of two loudspeakers, each adjacent to a response key. A response on the key adjacent to the sound source was reinforced (correct response). A response on the other key produced a timeout (incorrect response). Under these conditions, over 90% of responses were correct within one or two sessions. When the procedure was changed so that a response on either key was reinforced independently of which speaker was sounding, similar control by location developed within one or two sessions. When conditions were modified by moving the keys away from the immediate vicinity of the speakers, the animals required about 20 sessions to reach a stable level of greater than 90% correct responses under differential reinforcement conditions. No control by location developed under nondifferential reinforcement conditions.