Stimulus Change as a Discriminative Event in a Semimultiple Schedule

The effects of stimulus changes on activity in 20 food-deprived and 20 nondeprived adult rats were studied using a photo-relay method, direct observation, and bar-press rate. Differences in activity as measured by the photo-cells and differences in bar-presses were significant ( p < .001) for stimulation, deprivation, and the interactions. Ss in the stimulus change groups had the highest activity counts, their most frequent single behavior being exploration. The results confirmed the utility of the photo-relay system of measurement, demonstrated that stimulus change differentially affected the activity of deprived and nondeprived Ss, and supported the conclusion that stimulation sensitized S to its internal state to which it then reacted.

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Stimulus-Change Effects of Forcing in Alternation Behavior

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.1966.19.2.515 ◽

1966 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 515-518 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

R. N. Hughes

Keyword(s):

Free Choice ◽

Stimulus Change ◽

Lower Degree ◽

Alternation Behavior ◽

Subsequent Removal ◽

Transparent Barrier ◽

Initial Attraction ◽

High Degree

To test the hypothesis that forcing left or right in a T-maze produces more alternation because of the stimulus-change resulting from subsequent removal of the arm barrier, rats were given free-choice trials and forced trials with a wooden barrier (favouring a high degree of change) and with a transparent barrier (favouring a lower degree of change). Although alternation was unaffected by the three conditions, the percentage of first investigatory responses directed toward the alternate arm on Trial 2 was highest following forcing with the wooden barrier. It was concluded that a stimulus-change explanation for the effects of forcing was acceptable if these first investigatory responses were acknowledged as indices of initial attraction of attention by an arm.

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The effect of prefrontal lesions and food deprivation on response for stimulus change

Experimental Neurology ◽

10.1016/0014-4886(67)90066-0 ◽

1967 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 478-484 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Marvin Kamback

Keyword(s):

Food Deprivation ◽

Stimulus Change

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Spontaneous alteration and response to stimulus change in the ferret.

Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology ◽

10.1037/h0022310 ◽

1965 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 149-150 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

R N. Hughes

Keyword(s):

Stimulus Change

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Validation of a Brazilian quantitative sensory testing (QST) device for the diagnosis of small fiber neuropathies

Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria ◽

10.1590/s0004-282x2011000700019 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 69 (6) ◽

pp. 943-948 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Pedro Schestatsky ◽

Luciana Cadore Stefani ◽

Paulo Roberto Sanches ◽

Danton Pereira da Silva Júnior ◽

Iraci Lucena Silva Torres ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Sensory Testing ◽

Stimulus Change ◽

Heat Pain ◽

Thermal Perception ◽

Sensory Testing ◽

Brazilian Sample ◽

Small Fiber ◽

Normal Individuals ◽

Nociceptive Pathway

Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is defined as the determination of thresholds for sensory perception under controlled stimulus. Our aim was to validate a new QST device for Brazilian sample. In 20 healthy adults, thermoalgesic thresholds were assessed using a QST prototype (Heat Pain Stimulator-1.1.10; Brazil). A 30 × 30 mm² thermode with a 1°C/s stimulus change rate were applied. Thresholds of three consecutive stimuli were averaged in two different sessions separated by at least two weeks. Additionally long thermal heat pain stimulus was performed. To evaluate the consistency of our method we also analyzed 11 patients with small fiber neuropathy. Results showed good reproducibility of thermal perception thresholds in normal individuals and plausible abnormal thresholds in patients. We conclude that our QST device is reliable when analyzing the nociceptive pathway in controls and patients.

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