scholarly journals MAINTENANCE OF RESPONDING BY SQUIRREL MONKEYS UNDER A CONCURRENT SHOCK-POSTPONEMENT, FIXED-INTERVAL SHOCK-PRESENTATION SCHEDULE

1980 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Barrett ◽  
Jennifer A. Stanley
Keyword(s):  
Squirrel Monkeys ◽  
Fixed Interval ◽  
Shock Presentation

Reinforcement and Punishment of Behavior by the Same Consequent Event

1977 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 1015-1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Barrett ◽  
John R. Glowa
Keyword(s):  
Discriminative Stimulus ◽  
Electric Shock ◽  
Squirrel Monkeys ◽  
Food Presentation ◽  
Fixed Interval ◽  
Interval Schedule ◽  
Fixed Interval Schedule ◽  
Environmental Stimulus ◽  
Shock Presentation ◽  
Lever Pressing

In daily sessions, lever-pressing by each of two squirrel monkeys was maintained under two different conditions. During one condition responding that had been maintained initially under a 5-min. fixed-interval schedule of food presentation was suppressed when every 30th response produced an electric shock. In the presence of a different discriminative stimulus responding that initially postponed electric shock (avoidance) was ultimately maintained when responding instead produced shock under a 5-min. fixed-interval schedule. Thus responding was suppressed by shock presentation during one condition (punishment) and was maintained by the presentation of an identical shock during a second condition (reinforcement). Whether an environmental stimulus exerts reinforcing or punishing effects on behavior can depend on characteristics other than the nature of the event.

Mercury Effects from Chronic and Acute Doses on Fixed-Interval Operant Behavior of Female Squirrel Monkeys

1974 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-9
Author(s):  
William F. Vitulli
Keyword(s):  
Variable Interval ◽  
Squirrel Monkeys ◽  
Fixed Interval ◽  
Saimiri Sciureus ◽  
Experimental Session ◽  
Interval Scheduling ◽  
Acute Dose ◽  
Chronic Doses ◽  
Brain And Spinal Cord ◽  
The Brain

Adult female squirrel monkeys, Saimiri sciureus, were conditioned on a fixed-interval 10-min. schedule of Noyes 190-mg food pellets until steady states were recorded. Chronic, sublethal doses of dimethylmercury were then administered via the intraperitoneal route prior to each experimental session. Physiologically normal saline was administered IP during control sessions. Following the chronic series, one acute dose of mercury was administered to each S. As transitions between the chronic doses and the acute dose occurred, proportionate rate changes typical of the effects of variable-interval scheduling were observed, even though the fixed-interval schedule contingencies remained constant throughout the investigation. The results are explained as a function of sensory-motor disruptions due to the entrance of organic mercury into the brain and spinal cord.

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