Research article summary (published 30 Jul 2009):

Examination of reinforcement magnitude on the pharmacological disruption of fixed-ratio performance.

Full Abstract

Behavioral momentum theory proposes that operant behavior is the product of two separable processes: its rate of occurrence and its resistance to change. Generally speaking, operant situations providing more densely spaced or greater magnitudes of reinforcement should be more resistant to disruption. Attempts to disrupt ongoing behavior by manipulating the availability of food or deprivation level typically have supported the predictions of behavioral momentum. Tests with pharmacological disruptors, however, have yielded mixed results. Most investigations of pharmacological disruption of operant behavior have evaluated momentum across situations that differ in rate of reinforcement. The present experiment was an attempt to systematically replicate prior work, but under conditions of differing reinforcement magnitudes. Pigeons were trained to key peck on a multiple fixed-ratio 30 schedule of food presentation, where different components programmed 2-, 4-, or 8-s access to grain. Resistance to rate-decreasing effects of drugs was evaluated with several compounds drawn from distinct pharmacological classes: chlordiazepoxide, cocaine, clonidine, haloperidol, morphine, and ethanol were tested. Additionally, disruption by prefeeding and extinction was examined. Generally, resistance to change by drug administration was not modulated by reinforcement magnitude. Prefeeding and extinction tests, however, replicated previous work, indicating that our procedure was sensitive to more common disruptors. The results give additional support to the notion that pharmacological disruptors may not behave in the manner predicted by behavioral momentum theory. 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

Author information

Author/s: Pinkston, Jonathan W (JW); Ginsburg, Brett C (BC); Lamb, R J (RJ);

Affiliation: Universityof Texas Health Science Center, Department of Psychiatry, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. pinkstonj(-atsign-)uthscsa.edu

Grants: AA012337 (Agency:NIAAA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology (Exp Clin Psychopharmacol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 17 (issue 4) : pp 237-46

Dates: Created 2009/08/05; Completed 2009/09/25;

PMID: 19653789, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/25/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Chlordiazepoxide - pharmacology Clonidine - pharmacology Cocaine - pharmacology Columbidae Conditioning, Operant - drug effects Ethanol - pharmacology

Extinction, Psychological Food Deprivation Haloperidol - pharmacology Morphine - pharmacology Reinforcement (Psychology) Reinforcement Schedule Time Factors

Associated Chemicals: Clonidine (4205-90-7) ; Cocaine (50-36-2) ; Haloperidol (52-86-8) ; Morphine (57-27-2) ; Chlordiazepoxide (58-25-3) ; Ethanol (64-17-5)

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