Effects of delayed reinforcement in rats exposed to spatially variable conditions

Main Article Content

Felipe de Jesús Patrón Espinosa
Mauricio Ortega González
Carlos de Jesús Torres Ceja
Carlos Javier Flores Aguirre

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effects of manipulating the reinforcement delay and the spatial distance between the manipulandum (lever) and the reinforcer (water) on the response maintenance by rats. Four groups were exposed to temporally defined programs, the first response within a 30 seconds cycle produced the reinforcer delivery. The Group 1 was exposed to conditions of increased spatial distance through three phases. Group 2 was exposed to conditions of decreased spatial distance through three phases. The reinforcer was delivered at the end of the cycle (delay). For Groups 3 and 4 the reinforcer was delivered after the first lever press. The results showed that the response rate was an inverse function of increasing the reinforcement delay and the spatial distance between the manipulandum and the light-liquid dispenser set. But, this effect was most pronounced when these variables were combined.

Article Details

How to Cite
Effects of delayed reinforcement in rats exposed to spatially variable conditions. (2018). Argentinean Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 10(2), 25-36. https://doi.org/10.32348/1852.4206.v10.n2.19753
Section
Original Articles
Author Biographies

Felipe de Jesús Patrón Espinosa, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California. Facultad de Ciencias Humanas

Doctor en Ciencia del Comportamiento opción Análisis de la Conducta. 

Profesor-investigador titular en la Facultad de Ciencias Humanas de la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California. 

Responsable del Laboratorio para la Investigación del Comportamiento. 

Mauricio Ortega González, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California. Facultad de Ciencias Humanas

Profesor-investigador titular en la Facultad de Ciencias Humanas de la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California.

Carlos de Jesús Torres Ceja, Universidad de Guadalajara. Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones en Comportamiento

Profesor titular en el Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones en Comportamiento - Universidad de Guadalajara.

Carlos Javier Flores Aguirre, Universidad de Guadalajara. Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones en Comportamiento

Profesor titular en el Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones en Comportamiento - Universidad de Guadalajara.

How to Cite

Effects of delayed reinforcement in rats exposed to spatially variable conditions. (2018). Argentinean Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 10(2), 25-36. https://doi.org/10.32348/1852.4206.v10.n2.19753

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