The effects of a novel stimulus change on responding in extinction following fixed-ratio training

Abstract

The present study assessed the effects of a brief stimulus change not paired with food on the pattern of responding in extinction following fixed-ratio (FR) training. Four pigeons were trained to respond on a FR 100 schedule of food reinforcement. Two of these subjects were then exposed to four extinction sessions in which only this novel stimulus change followed completion of each FR 100. The other two pigeons were exposed to six extinction sessions with the unpaired stimulus change following completion of each FR 100 in odd-numbered extinction sessions. In even-numbered sessions, the stimulus change did not occur. A minimum of five retraining sessions occurred between extinction sessions. The results showed that the unpaired stimulus change controlled the location of pausing. Of the total number of pauses recorded during extinction, a greater proportion of these followed FR 100 schedules with stimulus change than without stimulus change. Consideration is given to the properties of the stimulus change responsible for these pause patterns.