Citation

Lloyd DR, Gancarz AM, Ashrafioun L, Kausch MA, Richards JB. Behav. Processes 2012; 91(2): 184-191.

Affiliation

Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, 1021 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14203, United States; Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, SUNY, Park Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.beproc.2012.07.007

PMID

22868172

Abstract

The term "sensory reinforcer" has been used to refer to sensory stimuli (e.g. light onset) that are primary reinforcers in order to differentiate them from other more biologically important primary reinforcers (e.g. food and water). Acquisition of snout poke responding for a visual stimulus (5s light onset) with fixed ratio 1 (FR 1), variable-interval 1min (VI 1min), or variable-interval 6min (VI 6min) schedules of reinforcement was tested in three groups of rats (n=8/group). The VI 6min schedule of reinforcement produced a higher response rate than the FR 1 or VI 1min schedules of visual stimulus reinforcement. One explanation for greater responding on the VI 6min schedule relative to the FR 1 and VI 1min schedules is that the reinforcing effectiveness of light onset habituated more rapidly in the FR 1 and VI 1min groups as compared to the VI 6min group. The inverse relationship between response rate and the rate of visual stimulus reinforcement is opposite to results from studies with biologically important reinforcers which indicate a positive relationship between response and reinforcement rate. Rapid habituation of reinforcing effectiveness may be a fundamental characteristic of sensory reinforcers that differentiates them from biologically important reinforcers, which are required to maintain homeostatic balance.

Language: en