Showing papers by "Russell M. Church published in 2005"
TL;DR: Although exponential functions provided good descriptions of many measures of temporal discrimination, different parameter values were required for each measure, the addition of a linear operator to a packet theory of timing with a single set of parameters provided a quantitative process model that fit many measuresof the dynamics of temporaldiscrimination.
Abstract: The purpose of this research was to describe and explain the acquisition of temporal discriminations, transitions from one temporal interval to another, and asymptotic performance of stimulus and temporal discriminations. Rats were trained on a multiple cued interval (MCI) procedure with a head entry response on three signaled fixed-interval schedules of reinforcement (30, 60, and 120 sec). They readily learned the three temporal discriminations, whether they were presented simultaneously or successively, and they rapidly adjusted their performance to new intervals when the intermediate interval was varied daily. Although exponential functions provided good descriptions of many measures of temporal discrimination, different parameter values were required for each measure. The addition of a linear operator to a packet theory of timing with a single set of parameters provided a quantitative process model that fit many measures of the dynamics of temporal discrimination.
46 citations
TL;DR: A packet theory of timing and conditioning is described that accounts for behavior under a wide range of procedures, including the food searching by rats in Skinner boxes under conditions of fixed and random reinforcement, brief and sustained stimuli, and several response-food contingencies.
25 citations
TL;DR: A quantitative theory of timing or conditioning can be evaluated with a Turing test in which the behavioral results of an experiment can be compared with the predicted results from the theory.
20 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Fenbendazole reduced the detection of pinworm eggs, and it had no significant behavioral effects across multiple levels of analysis (e.g., from overall response rates to response patterns to interresponse intervals), suggesting that behavioral studies are unlikely to be influenced by fenbENDazole treatment given before or during a study.
Abstract: Pinworm infection in rodent laboratories is common and often treated with fenbendazole, which is effective and has a low toxicity level. However, very little is known about the behavioral effects of the drug. The purpose of this study was to determine the behavioral effects of fenbendazole on rats tested by using various conditioning and timing procedures. These behavioral effects were examined both between animals (i.e., control versus medicated treatments) and within animals (baseline-treatment-baseline design). Fenbendazole reduced the detection of pinworm eggs, and it had no significant behavioral effects across multiple levels of analysis (e.g., from overall response rates to response patterns to interresponse intervals). All behavioral differences (e.g., discrimination ratios) were a result of task variables. These results suggest that behavioral studies are unlikely to be influenced by fenbendazole treatment given before or during a study.
10 citations
TL;DR: The fast and frugal heuristics of ABC and rules of thumb of behavioural biologists represent strategies that humans and other animals might use to make decisions under time constraints and with a minimum of information.
1 citations