SOCIAL-REINFORCEMENT OF OPERANT-BEHAVIOR IN RATS - A METHODOLOGICAL NOTE

Authors
EVANS MJ DUVEL A FUNK ML LEHMAN B SPARROW J WATSON NT NEURINGER A
Citation
Mj. Evans et al., SOCIAL-REINFORCEMENT OF OPERANT-BEHAVIOR IN RATS - A METHODOLOGICAL NOTE, Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior, 62(1), 1994, pp. 149-156
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Psychology, Experimental","Behavioral Sciences
Journal title
Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior → ACNP
ISSN journal
00225002
Volume
62
Issue
1
Year of publication
1994
Pages
149 - 156
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-5002(1994)62:1<149:SOOIR->2.0.ZU;2-5
Abstract
An apparatus was developed to study social reinforcement in the rat. F our Long-Evans female rats were trained to press a lever via shaping, with the reinforcer being access to a castrated male rat. Responding u nder a fixed-ratio schedule and in extinction was also observed. Socia l access was found to be an effective reinforcer. When social reinforc ement was compared with food reinforcement under similar conditions of deprivation and reinforcer duration, no significant differences were observed.