Delay of reinforcement for responses which end pauses: Effects on response rate

Abstract

Rata’ bar pressing was reinforced with water under a variable interval 1-min schedule. Pauses greater than 2 sec were registered and, in alternate experimental conditions, had as a consequence a delay of reinforcement for responses which terminated pausing, in a procedure similar to the chan­geover delay in concurrent schedules. The different conditions, the delay Iength was of 3, 5, 8, and 16 sec. Before each delay condition, a no delay procedure was in effect (baseline). For all three rats, a delay of reinforcement contingent on pausing resulted in increases in response rate and dcreases in percentage of session time spent in pauses (absence of bar presses). Results parallel those obtained when changeover delay length is manipulated in cotacurrent schedules, and were interpreted as the effect of differential reinforcement of interresponse times.