Fj. Silva et Jj. Pear, STEREOTYPY OF SPATIAL MOVEMENTS DURING NONCONTINGENT AND CONTINGENT REINFORCEMENT, Animal learning & behavior, 23(3), 1995, pp. 245-255
The degree of stereotypy in the movement patterns of 3 pigeons during
noncontingent and contingent periodic food reinforcement was quantifie
d by analyzing the distribution of turning angles, and by using inform
ation and Fourier analyses. The results indicated that (1) movement pa
tterns were less stereotyped during noncontingent than during continge
nt reinforcement, (2) a reversal to noncontingent reinforcement result
ed in a degree of stereotypy comparable to that during the first phase
of noncontingent reinforcement, (3) movement patterns were maximally
stereotyped immediately after food withdrawal and generally became les
s stereotyped as reinforcement approached, regardless of whether reinf
orcement was noncontingent or contingent, and (4) higher frequency mov
ements generally accounted for more variance in the movements during c
ontingent than during noncontingent reinforcement. Greater stereotypy
in the movements during contingent reinforcement was Likely due to a g
reater probability that similar movements were reinforced during conti
ngent reinforcement. Momentary changes in the stereotypy of the moveme
nts within the interfood interval might reflect changes in the level o
f arousal.