Determinants of Operant Behaviour in Humans: Some Differences from Animals

1978 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 373-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Fergus Lowe ◽  
Peter Harzem ◽  
Sara Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Operant Behaviour ◽  
Schedules Of Reinforcement ◽  
Digital Clock ◽  
Response Measures ◽  
Single Response ◽  
Different Response ◽  
Increasing Function

The performance of human subjects was investigated on fixed-interval (FI) schedules of reinforcement where responses meeting the schedule requirement produced points, later exchanged for money. For one group (the conventional FI condition) presses on a single response-panel were reinforced according to an FI schedule. For another group the procedure was the same as in the conventional FI condition, except that each response also illuminated a digital clock for 0.5 s. A third group responded on two panels; presses on one panel produced reinforcement on an FI schedule, and presses on the second panel illuminated the digital clock for 0.5 s. Responding in the conventional FI condition varied considerably both within and between subjects and different response measures showed no systematic relationship with FI value. For subjects in the other two groups, the pattern of responding on the clock-illuminating panel was scalloped, showing a pause after reinforcement followed by an accelerated response rate; the post-reinforcement pause was an increasing function, and running rate (calculated after excluding the post-reinforcement pause) was a decreasing function, of the value of the FI schedule. The data were compared with results of animal studies on FI schedules and some of the factors which affect performance on these schedules were analysed.

scholarly journals Time does tell: An analysis of observable audience responses from the 2016 American presidential campaigns

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 368-387
Author(s):  
Ewan J. K. Goode ◽  
Peter Bull
Keyword(s):  
Response Rate ◽  
Response Type ◽  
Response Form ◽  
Duration Of Response ◽  
Audience Responses ◽  
Single Response ◽  
Different Response ◽  
Composite Response ◽  
Rate Frequency ◽  
Type Response

In this study a microanalysis of OAR (Observable Audience Responses) in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election was conducted. OAR were coded into dimensions including response rate (frequency per minute), response type, and categorised as either a unitary (a single response), composite (two or more simultaneous response types) or sequential (a unitary or composite response that is followed by a different response type) response form. It was found that U.S. audiences made use of all three response forms (unitary, composite, and sequential) and that certain response forms had been under-represented when contrasted with findings from previous research. This study was also the first to measure the duration of OAR in the context of an election, and it was observed that response form significantly affected the duration of response. It was inferred from this that the audiences might select different responses as a means to control the force of reply. This study failed to replicate previous research that had found a correlation between response rate (affiliative OAR per minute) and voter share on polling day, but instead found a stronger, significant correlation between the duration of OAR and voter share. It was interpreted that duration of OAR may be a superior indicator of wider voter enthusiasm as it captures the length of response as well as the incidence.

Performance of Humans in Variable-Interval Avoidance Schedules Programmed Singly, and Concurrently with Variable-Interval Schedules of Positive Reinforcement

1981 ◽  
Vol 33 (4b) ◽  
pp. 213-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. V. Ruddle ◽  
C. M. Bradshaw ◽  
E. Szabadi
Keyword(s):  
Positive Reinforcement ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Variable Interval ◽  
Quantitative Model ◽  
Single Variable ◽  
Reinforcement Schedules ◽  
Loss Avoidance ◽  
Rate Ratios ◽  
Increasing Function

Performance maintained under single variable-interval avoidance schedules, single variable-interval schedules of positive reinforcement, and concurrent schedules consisting of a variable-interval avoidance component and a variable-interval positive reinforcement component, was studied in three human subjects, using points exchangeable for money as the reinforcer. Response rate in the single variable-interval avoidance schedules was an increasing function of the frequency of monetary loss avoidance. Response rate in the single variable-interval positive reinforcement schedules was an increasing function of the frequency of obtained monetary reinforcement. In the concurrent avoidance/reinforcement schedules, the rate of responding in the avoidance component increased, and the rate of responding in the positive reinforcement schedule decreased (with one exception) as a function of the frequency of loss avoidance in the avoidance component. The logarithms of the ratios of the response rates in the two components, and the logarithms of the ratios of the times spent in the two components, were linearly related to the logarithms of the ratios of the frequency of loss avoidance in the avoidance component to the frequency of reinforcement in the positive reinforcement component. All three subjects exhibited marked undermatching of response rate ratios to reinforcement frequency ratios. The results are discussed in the context of Herrnstein's quantitative model of operant performance.

’Animal Studies‘, Disziplinarität und die (Post-)Humanities

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cary Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Social Communication ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Human Subjects

Der Text von Cary Wolfe ist eine gekürzte Übersetzung des Kapitels »Animal Studies«, Disciplinarity, and the (Post)Humanities aus der Monographie What is Posthumanism? (Minnesota 2009). Wolfe diskutiert die Beziehung zwischen (Trans-)Disziplinarität und Posthumanismus im Rückgriff auf Konzepte von Derrida, Foucault und Luhmann, die eine Form von gesellschaftlicher Kommunikation zu denken erlauben, an der menschliche Subjekte zwar noch teilhaben, aber deren souveräne Urheber sie nicht mehr sind </br></br>The paper by Cary Wolfe is an abridged translation of the chapter »Animal Studies«, Disciplinarity, and the (Post)Humanities from the monograph (Minnesota 2009). Wolfe discusses the relation between (trans-)disciplinarity and posthumanism with reference to concepts by Derrida, Foucault and Luhmann, allowing to consider a form of social communication in which human subjects still may participate, but no longer are their sovereign initiators.

Development of the Biostator Glucose clamping algorithm.

1982 ◽  
Vol 28 (9) ◽  
pp. 1899-1904 ◽  
Author(s):  
A H Clemens ◽  
D L Hough ◽  
P A D'Orazio
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Insulin Infusion ◽  
Blood Glucose Concentration ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Pancreatic Beta Cell ◽  
Model System ◽  
Exogenous Insulin ◽  
Maturity Onset Diabetes ◽  
Beta Cell Response ◽  
Infusion System

Abstract The "glucose clamping" technique has been proposed as a method for the early detection of a beginning derangement of glucose homeostasis and thus for the possible prevention of maturity-onset diabetes. This technique interrupts the physiological glucose-insulin relationship by placing a patient's blood glucose concentration under an investigator's control, for quantification of the pancreatic beta-cell response during hyperglycemic clamps and of sensitivity of body tissue to exogenous insulin during normoglycemic clamps. We report the development of a glucose clamping algorithm for use with the Biostator glucose-controlled insulin-infusion system (Horm. Metab. Res., Suppl. 8: 23-33, 1977). This algorithm adds simplicity and precision to the glucose clamping procedure and reduces operator effort to a minimum. We describe the early development of the algorithm with a model system and report evaluations made during animal studies and preliminary investigations with human subjects.

Extinction in the Pigeon after Continuous Reinforcement: Effect of Number of Reinforced Responses

1971 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 331-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurel Furumoto
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Food Pellet ◽  
Key Peck ◽  
Continuous Reinforcement ◽  
Gm Food ◽  
Free Operant ◽  
Time To Extinction ◽  
Monotonically Increasing Function ◽  
Increasing Functions ◽  
Increasing Function

Number of responses and time to extinction were measured after 3, 10, 1000, 3000, 5000, and 10,000 reinforced key-peck responses during conditioning. Each response was reinforced with a 045-gm. food pellet. The number of responses in extinction was a monotonically increasing function which became asymptotic beyond 1000 reinforced responses. Number of reinforced responses during conditioning significantly affected the number of responses in extinction ( p < .001) but not the time to extinction. The results support the findings of previous free-operant bar-press studies with rats. Free-operant animal studies of extinction after continuous reinforcement have consistently produced monotonically increasing functions and have typically employed relatively small amounts of reinforcement. Amount of reward may be an important parameter determining the shape of the extinction function in the free-operant studies.

scholarly journals Nutritional programming of gastrointestinal tract development. Is the pig a good model for man?

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Guilloteau ◽  
Romuald Zabielski ◽  
Harald M. Hammon ◽  
Cornelia C. Metges
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Reference Model ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Mammalian Species ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Nutritional Programming ◽  
The Impact

The consequences of early-life nutritional programming in man and other mammalian species have been studied chiefly at the metabolic level. Very few studies, if any, have been performed in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) as the target organ, but extensive GIT studies are needed since the GIT plays a key role in nutrient supply and has an impact on functions of the entire organism. The possible deleterious effects of nutritional programming at the metabolic level were discovered following epidemiological studies in human subjects, and confirmed in animal models. Investigating the impact of programming on GIT structure and function would need appropriate animal models due to ethical restrictions in the use of human subjects. The aim of the present review is to discuss the use of pigs as an animal model as a compromise between ethically acceptable animal studies and the requirement of data which can be interpolated to the human situation. In nutritional programming studies, rodents are the most frequently used model for man, but GIT development and digestive function in rodents are considerably different from those in man. In that aspect, the pig GIT is much closer to the human than that of rodents. The swine species is closely comparable with man in many nutritional and digestive aspects, and thus provides ample opportunity to be used in investigations on the consequences of nutritional programming for the GIT. In particular, the ‘sow–piglets’ dyad could be a useful tool to simulate the ‘human mother–infant’ dyad in studies which examine short-, middle- and long-term effects and is suggested as the reference model.

scholarly journals Melissa officinalis L. as a Nutritional Strategy for Cardioprotection

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nevena Draginic ◽  
Vladimir Jakovljevic ◽  
Marijana Andjic ◽  
Jovana Jeremic ◽  
Ivan Srejovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Oil ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Radical Scavenging ◽  
Cardiovascular Effects ◽  
Melissa Officinalis ◽  
Active Components ◽  
Protective Mechanisms ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Radical Scavenging Properties

This review aimed to provide a summary on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities in the cardiovascular system and cardiotoxicity of Melissa officinalis (MO), with the special emphasis on the protective mechanisms in different cardiovascular pathologies. MO is a perennial aromatic herb commonly known as lemon balm, honey balm, or bee balm, which belongs to Lamiaceae family. Active components are mainly located in the leaves or essential oil and include volatile compounds, terpenoid (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes), and polyphenolic compounds [rosmarinic acid (RA), caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, quercitrin, rhamnocitrin, luteolin]. For centuries, MO has been traditionally used as a remedy for memory, cognition, anxiety, depression, and heart palpitations. Up until now, several beneficial cardiovascular effects of MO, in the form of extracts (aqueous, alcoholic, and hydroalcoholic), essential oil, and isolated compounds, have been confirmed in preclinical animal studies, such as antiarrhythmogenic, negative chronotropic and dromotropic, hypotensive, vasorelaxant, and infarct size–reducing effects. Nonetheless, MO effects on heart palpitations are the only ones confirmed in human subjects. The main mechanisms proposed for the cardiovascular effects of this plant are antioxidant free radical–scavenging properties of MO polyphenols, amelioration of oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory effects, activation of M2 and antagonism of β1 receptors in the heart, blockage of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, stimulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis, prevention of fibrotic changes, etc. Additionally, the main active ingredient of MO-RA, per se, has shown substantial cardiovascular effects. Because of the vastness of encouraging data from animal studies, this plant, as well as the main ingredient RA, should be considered and investigated further as a tool for cardioprotection and adjuvant therapy in patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

scholarly journals Nutrition and its contribution to obesity and diabetes: a life-course approach to disease prevention?

2008 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael E. Symonds
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Dietary Intervention ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Small Animal ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Obesity And Diabetes

Whilst previously type 2 diabetes occurred in older adults, its incidence, together with obesity, has increased rapidly in children. An improved understanding of this disease pathway from a developmental view point is critical. It is likely that subtle changes in dietary patterns over an extended period of time contribute to diabetes, although this type of rationale is largely ignored in animal studies aimed at determining the mechanisms involved. Small-animal studies in which large, and often extreme, changes in the diet are imposed at different stages of the life cycle can have substantial effects on fat mass and/or pancreatic functions. These responses are not representative of the much more gradual changes seen in the human population. An increasing number of studies indicate that it is growth rate per se, rather than the type of dietary intervention that determines pancreatic function during development. Epigenetic mechanisms that regulate insulin secretion by the pancreas can be re-set by more extreme changes in dietary supply in early life. The extent to which these changes may contribute to more subtle modulations in glucose homeostasis that can accompany excess fat growth in childhood remains to be established. For human subjects there is much less information as to whether specific dietary components determine disease onset. Indeed, it is highly likely that genotype has a major influence, although recent data relating early diet to physical activity and the FTO gene indicate the difficulty of establishing the relative contribution of diet and changes in body mass to diabetes.

scholarly journals Dark matters: effects of light at night on metabolism

2018 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randy J. Nelson ◽  
Souhad Chbeir
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythms ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Night Shift ◽  
Past Century ◽  
Light At Night ◽  
Shift Workers ◽  
The Past ◽  
Time Of Year ◽  
Life On Earth

Life on earth has evolved during the past several billion years under relatively bright days and dark night conditions. The wide-spread adoption of electric lights during the past century exposed animals, both human and non-human, to significant light at night for the first time in their evolutionary history. Endogenous circadian clocks depend on light to entrain to the external daily environment and seasonal rhythms depend on clear nightly melatonin signals to assess time of year. Thus, light at night can derange temporal adaptations. Indeed, disruption of naturally evolved light–dark cycles results in several physiological and behavioural changes with potentially serious implications for physiology, behaviour and mood. In this review, data from night-shift workers on their elevated risk for metabolic disorders, as well as data from animal studies will be discussed. Night-shift workers are predisposed to obesity and dysregulated metabolism that may result from disrupted circadian rhythms. Although studies in human subjects are correlative, animal studies have revealed several mechanisms through which light at night may exert its effects on metabolism by disrupting circadian rhythms that are associated with inflammation, both in the brain and in the periphery. Disruption of the typical timing of food intake is a key effect of light at night and subsequent metabolic dysregulation. Strategies to avoid the effects of light at night on body mass dysregulation should be pursued.

scholarly journals How Well Do Core Faculty Understand The Emeregency Medicine Milestones?

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-162
Author(s):  
Randy Sorge ◽  
Simiao Li-Sauerwine ◽  
Jorge Fernandez ◽  
Gene Hern
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medicine ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Program Directors ◽  
Electronic Media ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Core Faculty ◽  
Poor Understanding ◽  
Competency Based ◽  
Single Response

Introduction: It is unclear how emergency medicine (EM) programs educate core faculty about the use of milestones in competency-based evaluations. We conducted a national survey to profile how programs educate core faculty regarding their use and to assess core faculty’s understanding of the milestones. Methods: Our survey tool was distributed over six months in 2017 via the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD) listserv. Responses, which were de-identified, were solicited from program directors (PDs), assistant/associate program directors (APDs), and core faculty. A single response from a program was considered sufficient. Results: Our survey had a 69.7% response rate (n=140/201). 62.9% of programs reported educating core faculty about the EM Milestones via the distribution of physical or electronic media. Although 82.6% of respondents indicated that it was important for core faculty to understand how the EM Milestones are used in competency-based evaluations, respondents estimated that 48.6% of core faculty possess “fair or poor” understanding of the milestones. Furthermore, only 50.7% of respondents felt that the EM Milestones were a valuable tool. Conclusion: These data suggest there is sub-optimal understanding of the EM Milestones among core faculty and disagreement as to whether the milestones are a valuable tool.

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