TEMPORAL DISCRIMINATION-LEARNING OF OPERANT FEEDING IN GOLDFISH (CARASSIUS-AURATUS)

Operant temporal discrimination learning was investigated in goldfish. In the first experiment, there was a fixed daily change in illuminati on. Eight subjects were trained to operate a lever that reinforced eac h press with food. The period during which responses were reinforced w as then progressively reduced until it was 1 hr in every 24. The final 1-hr feeding schedule was maintained over 4 weeks. The feeding period commenced at the same time each day throughout. The food dispensers w ere then made inactive, and a period of extinction ensued for 6 days. The pattern of responding suggested that the fish were able to exhibit temporal discrimination in anticipation of feeding time. This pattern of responding persisted for a limited number of days during the extin ction procedure. The second experiment produced evidence that operant temporal discrimination could develop under continuous illumination.