The Effect of Changeover Delays on Schedule-Induced Drinking on Concurrent Schedules

Abstract

Four experimentally naive male albino rats were exposed to concurrent variable-interval schedules. The duration of the changeover delay was varied using durations of 8, 4, 0, and 4 s. Schedule-induced drinking was not restricted to the postpellet period but also followed unreinforced responding. Postpellet lick episodes decreased as the changeover delay duration decreased. For three of the four subjects, postresponse lick episodes increased with decreases in changeover delay duration. Drinking never followed a changeover response nor occurred during a changeover delay. The occurrence of postresponse licking and the absence of licking during the changeover delay supports an analysis of the changeover delay as a period of high reinforcement density.