Showing papers in "Behavior Research Methods in 1968"
TL;DR: The authors summarizes some measures of nonverbal behavior that have been found to be significant indicators of a communicator's attitude toward, status relative to, and responsiveness to his addressee.
Abstract: This paper summarizes some of the measures of nonverbal behavior that have been found to be significant indicators of a communicator’s attitude toward, status relative to, and responsiveness to his addressee. The nonverbal cues considered include posture, position, movement, facial, and implicit verbal cues. In addition to providing criteria for the scoring of these cues, experimental findings that relate to the various cues are summarized.
520 citations
285 citations
TL;DR: The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) has recently been introduced into behavioral research and general characteristics are described, and a brief review of behavioral research is given.
Abstract: The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) has recently been introduced into behavioral research. Many features make it an ideal laboratory animal. It is docile, highly exploratory, a good learner, virtually odorless and can be maintained without water; other than that it metabolizes from its food. General characteristics of the gerbil are described, and a brief review of behavioral research is given. The gerbil also possesses unique attributes that can only be studied by matching experimental methodology with species-common responses. Territorial marking is used as example. The gerbil regularly marks objects in an open field by skimming the object with a midventral sebaceous scent gland. The marking and gland are dimorphic, with the male marking about twice as frequently as the female and possessing a gland roughly twice the size. The configuration of the field (object quality) modifies the frequency of the response, as does the time of day the animals are exposed to the field. Androgen levels control the level of marking in the male and female, and the correlations between testis weight, size of the sebaceous gland, secretory output and marking frequency are significant. When a gerbil is introduced into an open field recently contaminated by another gerbil, or when objects are smeared with sebum and placed in the field, the male tends to be more hesitant in several types of behavior. The laboratory measures are internally consistent and congruous with the notion that natural selection has acted to reinforce a hormone-behavior relation of social significance to the gerbil.
93 citations
TL;DR: Pregnant rats were trained to press a bar for food rewards: Postpartum these Ss were tested when each bar-press delivered a rat pup (S’s own or foster) into the food cup and repetitively bar-pressed, snatched up the pup as it tumbled down the chute and retrieved the pup into the adjacent nest box.
Abstract: Pregnant rats were trained to press a bar for food rewards: Postpartum these Ss were tested when each bar-press delivered a rat pup (S’s own or foster) into the food cup. Ss repetitively bar-pressed, snatched up the pup as it tumbled down the chute and retrieved the pup into the adjacent nest box. Ss lived with 6 nursing pups but bar-pressed for hundreds: E removed all but 6 pups from the nest box after S had accumulated about 20. Maximal performance was 684 responses in a 3-h period. This technique is currently being used to study weaning and hormonal factors involved in the rat’s maternal motivation.
52 citations
TL;DR: A device for rapid recording of positioning responses is described, which has the advantages of rapid, accurate measurement, reliability, ease of reading, and the potential for automatic recording of positional data in two dimensions.
Abstract: A device for rapid recording of positioning responses is described. It utilizes an extremely simple, low-cost position transducer and two digital voltmeters or their equivalent. The device has the advantages of rapid, accurate measurement, reliability, ease of reading, and the potential for automatic recording of positional data in two dimensions.
31 citations
TL;DR: This paper gives an outline of the principles of a flexible and programmable system which meets the requirements of a considerable number of variables.
Abstract: Experiments on perceptual-motor skills often ask for complex application of standard devices. Combinations of the usual electric or electronic instruments such as signal generators, simple time counters and response recorders cannot always be used to form a sufficiently flexible system for a particular set of experiments. In general, an apparatus specially built for a specific experiment does not satisfy the requirements of related investigations and the same device is seldom used again. This paper gives an outline of the principles of a flexible and programmable system which meets the requirements of a considerable number of variables. Some first applications of the system are described.
31 citations
TL;DR: The measure of category clustering proposed by Bousfleld et al. as discussed by the authors was modified to take into account differences in the distribution of the expected value of number of repetitions.
Abstract: The measure of category clustering proposed by Bousfleld & Bousfleld (1966) was modified to take into account differences in the distribution of the expected value of number of repetitions. The possible effects of using the clustering index without this major modification are discussed.
30 citations
TL;DR: The objectives of the present paper are to outline briefly the very great research potential of a computer-based cathode-ray tube (CRT) display system for studies in visual perception, learning, and memory.
Abstract: The objectives of the present paper are (1) to outline briefly the very great research potential of a computer-based cathode-ray tube (CRT) display system for studies in visual perception, learning, and memory, (2) to discuss the hardware and software components of such systems with reference to a particular system currently in use, and (3) to describe some of the advantages and disadvantages of such systems for conducting behavioral research.
27 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a method to compare putativety equivalent forms of a behavioral test, inbred strains may be useful in situations where effects of previous testing make it impossible to compare similar forms of behavioral test.
Abstract: In situations where effects of previous testing make it impossible to compare putativety equivalent forms of a behavioral test, inbred strains may be useful. To a considerable extent, animals from an inbred strain represent replicate individuals. Different naive samples from the same strain may be tested in different forms of a test. There is presumptive evidence that the two forms arc assessing similar functions if samples from different strains that differ on the behavior give consistent ordinal rankings. An illustration is given of the use of this approach in assessing methods of measuring alcohol preference in mice.
25 citations
TL;DR: The lack of an adequate theory of reversible perspective is largely attributable to the haphazard methodology adopted by many workers in this area of research as mentioned in this paper, and no standard experimental procedure has evolved, and the comparison of results from different studies is difficult.
Abstract: The lack of an adequate theory of reversible perspective is largely attributable to the haphazard methodology adopted by many workers in this area of research. After more than 60 years, no standard experimental procedure has evolved, and the comparison of results from different studies is difficult. Some representative experiments are reviewed in terms of the temporal, stimulus, and procedural factors involved. It is suggested that the general use of the reversal rate measure is the major single barrier to progress, and that a continuous recording method be adopted in future experimentation.
23 citations
TL;DR: This report describes a simple technique and restraining device for investigating classically conditioned inhibition of respiration in the fish.
Abstract: This report describes a simple technique and restraining device for investigating classically conditioned inhibition of respiration in the fish. The restraining device is seen as having wide applicability for investigations which necessitate the immobilization of the S.
TL;DR: These studies show that nonhuman primates lack the anatomical apparatus that is necessary for the production of the full range of human speech.
Abstract: The acoustic theory of speech production relates articulatory maneuvers to acoustic attributes of speech. Some procedures are discussed that make use of this theory to analyze the vocalizations of nonhuman primates. These procedures make use of sound spectrograms, oscillograms, and computer-implemented analogs of the primate vocal apparatus as well as anatomical measurements. The use of these techniques in recent studies of nonhuman primate vocalizations is reviewed. These studies show that nonhuman primates lack the anatomical apparatus that is necessary for the production of the full range of human speech. Some unresolved questions concerning the structure of nonhuman primate utterances are discussed with regard to human linguistic ability.
TL;DR: In this paper, a procedure of partial analysis in which interactions, primarily those involving minor variables, are omitted from the analysis when prior evidence indicates that they are probably negligible is discussed.
Abstract: Inclusion of several variables in a design is often desirable, but each added variable doubles the number of significance tests in the routine analysis of variance. This note discusses a procedure of partial analysis in which interactions, primarily those involving minor variables, are omitted from the analysis when prior evidence indicates that they are probably negligible. The rationale of this procedure is given, and its use illustrated in a model experiment. Specific recommendations for handling systematic sources and error terms are given.
TL;DR: Limits are considerably overcome by new assays for Cortisol and corticosterone based on the principle of competitive protein-binding of the steroids in the presence of radioactively labeled steroid of the same molecular species.
Abstract: The measurement of the adrenocortical hormones, Cortisol and corticosterone, m blood plasma has previously best been done by procedures employing varying degrees of purification of the hormone, followed by photometric or fluorimetric quantitation. These methods have been relatively difficult or laborious, particularly in the case of the procedures that most specifically measure the hormoneof intent. These limitations are considerably overcome by new assays for Cortisol and corticosterone based on the principle of competitive protein-binding of the steroids in the presence of radioactively labeled steroid of the same molecular species. These methods are described and data on the specificity of such a method for corticosterone are presented and compared with one of the better fluorimetric assays.
TL;DR: The hardware and software for a computer-controlled training and testing system for primates are described and all stimulus presentation, reinforcement, and records data in a form ready for analysis on a larger computer are described.
Abstract: The hardware and software for a computer-controlled training and testing system for primates are described. The computer (DDP-116 in the Computer-Controlled Psychology Laboratory at Carnegie-Mellon University) controls all stimulus presentation, reinforcement, and records data in a form ready for analysis on a larger computer.
TL;DR: The Convective Thermal Controller (CTC) as discussed by the authors is designed to provide rapid and precise control of a thermal stimulus for application to behavioral experiments with small animals, where subjects are bathed in one of two continuously recirculating air systems; two valves determine which of the systems play on S. When the systems are stabilized at different temperatures, actuation of the valves can produce an abrupt and stable temperature change in.3 sec.
Abstract: The Convective Thermal Controller (CTC) is designed to provide rapid and precise control of a thermal stimulus for application to behavioral experiments with small animals. Subjects are bathed in one of two continuously recirculating air systems; two valves determine which of the systems play on S. When the systems are stabilized at different temperatures, actuation of the valves can produce an abrupt and stable temperature change in .3 sec. Behavioral observations indicate that escape learning occurs readily; latency decreases monotonically with drive intensity and increases monotonically with reinforcement duration.
TL;DR: In this paper, a new apparatus was developed for the simple, safe, and effective delivery of electric shock, which delivers a single-pulse high-voltage shock of very short duration.
Abstract: A new apparatus has been developed for the simple, safe, and effective delivery of electric shock. It delivers a single-pulse high-voltage shock of very short duration. Both voltage and current are easily measured and the applied energy can be calculated. Constant energy applications depend less upon skin contact resistance than is the case with 600-V 60-Hz shockers.
TL;DR: In this paper, a reciprocal yoked control design is presented, in which each S of a yoked pair receives training with two CSs, one of which involves an instrumental contingency while the other is in a yoke control arrangement with the other S's instrumental CS.
Abstract: Church’s objections to the yoked control design are reviewed and criticized. To deal with them more effectively, a reciprocal yoked control design is presented, in which each S of a yoked pair receives training with two CSs, one of which involves an instrumental contingency while the other is in a yoked control arrangement with the other S’s instrumental CS. Thus, each S in the pair serves as a yoked control for the other, in reciprocal relation to the two CSs used. In addition to eliminating inadvertent confounding stemming from individual differences in sensitization and responsiveness, the reciprocal yoked control design also provides a single-session method for identifying Ss who are equally classically conditionable, so that instrumental-classical comparisons can be made free of bias from differences in classical conditionability. In addition, this design provides a means for testing the empirical soundness of Church’s arguments regarding differences in conditionability and biased outcomes Methods for statistical analysis of the reciprocal yoked control design are also considered.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show that recall is superior to anticipation for serial learning, where recall has a markedly greater sensitivity to the effects of relevant manipulated variables and does not result in the classical bowed serial-position curve that has proved difficult to understand under serial anticipation.
Abstract: The standard paired-associate anticipation procedure previously has been argued to be inferior to recall (Battig, 1965). Anticipation performance measures provide contaminated and inaccurate estimates of Ss’ current learning level, reflecting the unnecessary confusion produced by requiring S to do too many things at once. The present paper shows these arguments against anticipation procedures to apply equally to other types of verbal-learning tasks. Even stronger advantages of recall over anticipation procedures are demonstrated for serial learning, wherein recall additionally displays a markedly greater sensitivity to the effects of relevant manipulated variables, and does not result in the classical bowed serial-position curve that has proved so difficult to understand under serial anticipation.
TL;DR: The specifications of a set of interface components able to connect a digital computer to any of a large number of psychological experiments are presented, believed to be nearly inclusive of most of the needs of current computer controlled psychological research.
Abstract: In this paper we present the specifications of a set of interface components able to connect a digital computer to any of a large number of psychological experiments We believe this set to be nearly inclusive of most of the needs of current computer controlled psychological research. The function and special requirements of each of the devices is described and a block diagram presented Specific details of electronics construction are not discussed
TL;DR: In this paper, the acquisition and extinction curves for a sample of 12 goldfish trained in spaced trials are plotted in terms of three measures, i.e., acquisition, extinction, and extinction.
Abstract: A runway and a training procedure arc described. Acquisition and extinction curves for a sample of 12 goldfish trained in spaced trials are plotted in terms of three measures.
TL;DR: Two 10-channel tachistoscopes are described and two methods of programming the equipment are described, and some experimental applications are considered.
Abstract: Two 10-channel tachistoscopes are described. In one the optical system is based upon fiber optic light guides; channel and interchannel time control is provided by Tektronix pulse and waveform generators. In the other the optical system uses 10 8-mm variable power projector lens systems. Timing control is obtained from an Iconix timebase generator and preset counters. Two methods of programming the equipment are described and some experimental applications are considered.
TL;DR: An improved olfactometer is described, and its range of application for the study of the olfaction in man is discussed; the apparatus has been used in a variety of situations ranging from absolute threshold detection to adaptation and recovery.
Abstract: An improved olfactometer is described, and its range of application for the study of the olfaction in man is discussed. The apparatus is based on air dilution; an odorant is diluted in a constant-flowing stream of air. The odor-containing air flows to S, who is seated in an enclosed partition with his head in a Plexiglas hood. A visual signal system allows communication between E and S. Precision flowmeters, solenoid valves, one-way floats, and an automated control system permit E to select rapidly a large range of stimuli, stimulus concentrations, and trial lengths. The apparatus has been used in a variety of situations ranging from absolute threshold detection to adaptation and recovery.
TL;DR: The use of a small data acquisition computer (PDP-8) is described for on-One operations in visual perception experiments and a brief description is given of some special purpose interface components and how the computer could be used for experimental situations other than those inVisual perception.
Abstract: The use of a small data acquisition computer (PDP-8) is described for on-One operations in visual perception experiments. A typical pro&um to control an experiment on short-term visual memory is presented, and the interface to connect the computer to the external stimulating and response devices is described in some detail A brief description is given of some special purpose interface components and how the computer could be used for experimental situations other than those in visual perception.
TL;DR: A multichannel programming, data collection, and printout system is described for the investigation of avoidance and stress conditioning of monkeys, individually or yoked.
Abstract: A multichannel programming, data collection, and printout system is described for the investigation of avoidance and stress conditioning of monkeys, individually or yoked.
TL;DR: In this article, a critique of amplitude analyses in GSR conditioning is discussed, and it is pointed out that, when amplitudes are properly analyzed with all Ss contributing equally to each repeated measures point, the concern of latency interval, definition of response probability, and distribution of GSR amplitudes apply to analyses of magnitude, probability and latency, as well as amplitude.
Abstract: A critique of amplitude analyses in GSR conditioning is discussed. It was pointed out that, when amplitudes are properly analyzed with all Ss contributing equally to each repeated measures point, the concern of latency interval, definition of response probability, and distribution of GSR amplitudes are concerns which apply to analyses of magnitude, probability, and latency, as well as of amplitude. It was concluded that nothing is lost in separating magnitude into its amplitude and probability components, particularly when magnitude, as well, is included in the statistical analyses, and that, to the contrary, we stand to learn something by such a partitioning which could not be learned without it.
TL;DR: A solid-state random number generator is described, which uses the leakage across a reversed biased diode as the random source and statistical tests carried out on sequences of numbers failed to show any biases from randomness at sampling rates up to 3 kHz.
Abstract: A solid-state random number generator is described, which uses the leakage across a reversed biased diode as the random source. Statistical tests carried out on sequences of numbers failed to show any biases from randomness at sampling rates up to 3 kHz.
TL;DR: Apparatus and procedure are described for providing a one-trial nonshock passive-avoidance task and the results show good results in both the direct and sham trials.
Abstract: Apparatus and procedure are described for providing a one-trial nonshock passive-avoidance task.
TL;DR: In both experiments, animals run under the simulated one-way condition showed superior per cent avoidance performance relative to the shuttle animals.
Abstract: The fully automated shuttle box employed in two experiments permitted the comparison within one apparatus of performance under a simulated one-way condition and the usual shuttle condition. Animals in the simulated one-way condition always ran from a white compartment into a black compartment, but alternated their direction of locomotion, as did the shuttle animals. In both experiments, animals run under the simulated one-way condition showed superior per cent avoidance performance relative to the shuttle animals. The results were compared with those obtained in other one-way avoidance and shuttle studies.
TL;DR: The methods described and the electrodes used indicated that RF lesion size was closely and linearly related to a simple V dc index and that the resultant lesions were equally distributed around the position of the lesion electrode with extremely smooth and consistent perimeters.
Abstract: The described procedures represent an evaluation of the use of radio frequency currents in the production of discrete subcortical brain lesions. The methods described and the electrodes used indicated that RF lesion size was closely and linearly related to a simple V dc index and that the resultant lesions were equally distributed around the position of the lesion electrode with extremely smooth and consistent perimeters.