Dj. Walker et Mn. Branch, EFFECTS OF COCAINE ON BRIEFLY SIGNALED VERSUS COMPLETELY SIGNALED DELAYS TO REINFORCEMENT, Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior, 65(2), 1996, pp. 375-388
Key pecking by 4 pigeons was maintained by a multiple schedule consist
ing of two variable-interval 60-s schedules wherein each food presenta
tion followed a nonresetting 27-s delay that was either briefly signal
ed at its outset or completely signaled. Brief-signal duration was adj
usted so that response rates maintained by the briefly and completely
signaled delays of reinforcement were similar. In general, acute admin
istration of small to intermediate doses (0.3 to 3.0 mg/kg) of cocaine
produced either small increases in response rates in both components
or no change, and larger doses (5.6 to 13.0 mg/kg) decreased response
rates. Chronic (i.e., daily) cocaine administration (10.0 mg/kg) resul
ted in tolerance to the rate-decreasing effects in both components. Co
caine's effects were generally similar whether delays were completely
or briefly signaled. Discontinuation of cocaine administration and sub
sequent removal of the delay signals also had similar effects in both
components of the multiple schedule. Taken together, these results are
consistent with the view that the two types of delay signals were equ
ally effective in maintaining responding during the variable-interval
schedules.