A self-control procedure that involved a later onset of a stimulus signalling a small reinforcer within the waiting time for a larger reinforcer was investigated to determine a point of shifting preference and a discounting function as the delay varied. The results from Experiment 1 to Experiment 3 showed exclusive impulsive choices regardless of the delay. In order to examine if the results were due to the procedure and the parameters, or the species used, Experiment 4 attempted to obtain shifts in preference using simultaneous onset of stimuli with the same species. The results demonstrated no changes in preference but an increase in proportion of self-control choices was shown. Due to the limited information from the replicated studies, the accounts for the results could not be concluded. The explanations derived from choice models seemed most plausible, but limitations of the choice models were discussed.

The Generalized Matching Equation (GME) has been utilized by many behavioral researchers as a model of operant choice, especially in elite sports. In this instance, the GME was used to analyze the penalty-kick selections (e.g., shoot right or shoot left) of nine elite international soccer players. The analysis of archival data from in-game decisions demonstrated the presence of matching across participants and within a naturalistic setting. Undermatching consistent with previous laboratory and non-laboratory research on the matching law was also observed. The GME accounted for a majority of variance in penalty-kick selection, with minimal bias in responding. The players’ choices did not demonstrate clear preferences for shooting at either side of the goal, but did expose trends in individual responding worth noting. While the results extend the research literature regarding the applicability of GME to professional sports, future research should investigate matching relationships through analyzing larger sample sizes, team-wide responses, and team outcomes. / Applied Behavioral Analysis

Cognitive theories of timing and conditioned reinforcement provide two different theoretical perspectives on choice between delayed rewards. The primary objective of this research was to identify the process that generates choice in the concurrent-chains procedure and to characterize its relationship with temporal control. Experiments 1-3 investigated the relationship between the dynamics of pigeons’ preference and temporal control in concurrent chains using an arrangement in which the delays to reinforcement changed unpredictably across sessions. To obtain convergent measures of choice and timing behavior, occasional ‘no-food’ terminal links lasted longer than the schedule values and ended without reinforcement. Measures of choice (log initial-link response ratios) and timing (start and stop times from no-food terminal links) stabilized within individual sessions. Sensitivity of log response ratios to relative immediacy increased as initial-link duration decreased or absolute terminal-link delays increased, but absolute initial- and terminal-link duration did not affect temporal control. Residual covariation analyses of log response ratios with log start and stop time ratios confirmed that measures of choice and timing were interdependent. Experiments 4 and 5 used concurrent-chains procedures in which immediacy, magnitude (and probability, in Experiment 5) ratios for left and right keys were 2:1 or 1:2, determined across sessions by independent, random series. Experiment 6 was a concurrent schedule in which relative reinforcement rate and magnitude were 2:1 or 1:2, determined the same way. Multiple regression analyses showed that pigeons’ response allocation in Experiments 4-6 was sensitive to multiple dimensions of reinforcement. Levels of preference within individual sessions and initial links or interfood intervals was more extreme when all dimensions favored the same key than when at least one dimension favored each key, consistent with assumptions of the generalized matching law. Within individual sessions, changes in response allocation in all experiments tended to be abrupt, consistent with the assumptions of Rate Estimation Theory (Gallistel & Gibbon, 2000). A decision model that posits a comparison between delayed outcomes with a criterion delay (Grace & McLean, 2006) described initial-link responding in Experiments 1-3. A modified decision model in which outcome expectancy is compared to an expectancy criterion described responding in Experiments 4-6.

Cocaine use disorder is a significant health problem, negatively impacting individuals afflicted. While preclinical self-administration research has provided invaluable insight into the neurobehavioral mechanisms that underlie cocaine abuse, cocaine use outside of the laboratory occurs within an environment where other goods are also available ubiquitously. Although there is an ever-increasing literature investigating drug vs. non-drug choice in rodent models and how alternative goods can compete with the subjective value of cocaine, the neurobiological mechanisms that are associated with cocaine preference remains largely unknown. Additionally, current drug vs. non-drug choice studies use procedures that confound preference with intake, such that preference measures are directly reflective of individual experience with drug and non-drug reinforcers earned through the choices that are made; simply, preference and intake are the same. Moreover, differences in cocaine experience can result in differential neural adaptations, thus making it difficult to determine if the neurobiological mechanisms underlying choice are related to preference or drug intake. Herein a novel choice procedure, which controls for reinforcer intake (controlled reinforcer ratio; CRR), was used to explore how certain reinforcer dimensions (i.e., magnitude and frequency) influence cocaine preference. In addition, neuronal activity, measured via c-fos expression, in the orbitofrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens, areas associated with decision-making and valuation, for cocaine and food were independently targeted and labeled using fluorescent in situ hybridization and fluorescent immunohistochemistry. First, unlike prototypical choice procedures where preference and intake are confounded, the CRR choice procedure was able to dissociate the two. Under the CRR choice procedure, it was revealed that both magnitude and frequency, independent dimensions of reinforcement, greatly influence preference for cocaine. Furthermore, the CRR choice procedure was sensitive to manipulations known to influence cocaine preference while keeping reinforcer intake constant. When neuronal activity was examined after CRR training, the number of cocaine activated cells, relative to food activated cells, did not correlate with individual preferences for cocaine despite overall reinforcer intake being held constant. Instead, results suggest neuronal activity for cocaine was related to overall cocaine intake. Overall, these results give impetus for utilizing the CRR choice procedure to better investigate how drug and non-drug reinforcers are afforded differential subjective value and compete for preference. Moreover, use of a CRR choice procedure may lead to identification of specific neurobehavioral mechanisms and lead toward future development of more effective pharmacological and behavioral treatments to ameliorate substance use disorders.

Orientador: Kester Carrara / Resumo: É sabida a existência de diversas propostas para a explicação de fenômenos comportamentais. A pretensão, neste trabalho, foi discutir dois tipos de análise comportamental, a saber, molar e molecular, buscando realizar uma análise crítica que implique discussões sobre as próprias definições de molar e molecular, diferenças, semelhanças, e o que esses dois tipos de análise podem oferecer e contribuir para a ciência da análise do comportamento. Para alcançar esse objetivo foi realizado o rastreio de material, de forma a incluir os dois níveis de análise, no portal de busca “APAPsycNET”. A seleção dos trabalhos foi feita a partir da leitura do título e do resumo, buscando estar de acordo com os critérios de inclusão e de exclusão definidos. As publicações encontradas foram incluídas em alguma das categorias de análise estabelecidas, de acordo com a definição de cada categoria: (a) pesquisas teóricas; (b) pesquisas interpretativas; (c) pesquisas aplicadas; e (d) pesquisas experimentais. A análise do material implicou a utilização adaptada do Procedimento de Interpretação Conceitual de Texto (PICT). Os resultados encontrados são controversos, pois há autores que definem as duas propostas como opostas e diferentes, já outros explicam que relações molares são compostas por relações moleculares, embora relações molares possam gerar maiores informações sobre determinadas relações organismo-ambiente e a partir disso é possível a investigação de qualquer fenômeno utilizando ambos os tipo... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The existence of several proposals for the explanation of behavioral phenomena is known. The intention, in this work, was to discuss two types of behavioral analysis, namely, molar and molecular, seeking to carry out a critical analysis that involves discussions about the very definitions of molar and molecular, differences, similarities, and what these two types of analysis can offer and contribute to the science of behavior analysis. In order to achieve this objective, material tracking was carried out, in order to include the two levels of analysis, in the search portal “APAPsycNET”. The selection of works was made by reading the title and the abstract, seeking to comply with the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The publications found were included in one of the established analysis categories, according to the definition of each category: (a) theoretical research; (b) interpretative research; (c) applied research; and (d) experimental research. The analysis of the material implied the adapted use of the Conceptual Text Interpretation Procedure (PICT). The results found are controversial, as there are authors who define the two proposals as opposed and different, while others explain that molar relationships are composed of molecular relationships, although molar relationships can generate more information about certain organism-environment relationships and from that it is possible to investigation of any phenomenon using both types of analysis. In this case, the... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The purpose of this study was to determine whether altering parameters of positive and negative reinforcement in identical ways could influence behavior maintained by each in different ways. Three undergraduate students participated in a series of assessments designed to identify preferred and aversive sounds with similar reinforcing values. Following reinforcer identification, we conducted parameter sensitivity assessments for both positive and negative reinforcers. Parameter manipulations influenced behavior in the same way across reinforcement processes for two participants. However, for one participant, the way in which parameter manipulations influenced behavior differed according to the reinforcement process. Our results suggest that, for at least some individuals, positive and negative sound reinforcement processes do not influence behavior in identical ways. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:30:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 6760.pdf: 2504221 bytes, checksum: 45e64948f4a0d4d5a9beeab79feef1f1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-13 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Food with high sugar concentration exhibits relation with impulsive eating behavior and obesity. This research investigated the effect of different rates of reinforcement and compositions of food, traditional or light, on the choice responses pattern of four undergraduate students. Those foods have similar organoleptic characteristics and different sugar concentration. One study, whith three phases was did, in all of them, two stimuli representing the initial links of a chain-concurrent schedule were presented, simultaneously, to the participants in a computer screen. Choice response in the initial links was followed by the second link of the chain-concurrent schedule. In Phase 1, response in FR1 on the second link was followed by the delivering, in both alternatives, of juice samples with the same composition, flavor and magnitude, an inter-trial interval and another trial. In Phase 2, response in FR1 on the second link was followed by the delivering of samples of traditional juice composition on one terminal link of the chain-concurrent schedule or light juice composition on another terminal link of the chain-concurrent schedule, an inter-trial interval and another trial. In Phase 3, was added primarily contextual stimuli consistent with the structural arrangement indicating which composition would have the juice samples available for each alternative and later this contextual stimuli became inconsistent with the structural arrangement. The sessions presented varied in time. The maximum duration was 10 minutes and occurred, on average, three times a week. The results showed that human subjects have difficult to exhibit maximization in chain-concurrent schedule, have good sensitivity to the different reinforcement rates in chain-concurrent schedule and concentrations of sugar in samples of traditional and light juices composition. / Alimentos com alta concentração de açúcar apresentam relação com comportamento alimentar impulsivo e obesidade. Esta pesquisa investigou o efeito que diferentes taxas de reforçamento e composições de alimentos, tradicional ou light, exerciam no comportamento de escolhas de quatro universitários. Tais alimentos apresentavam características organolépticas similares e diferiam apenas quanto à concentração de açúcar. Um estudo, contendo três fases, foi realizado com dois estímulos representando os elos iniciais de esquemas de reforçamento concorrentes encadeados apresentados, simultaneamente, aos participantes na tela do computador. Respostas nos elos iniciais foram seguidas pelo segundo elo do esquema encadeado. Na Fase 1, respostas em FR1 no segundo elo foram seguidas pela apresentação, em ambas as alternativas, de amostras de sucos de mesma quantidade, mesmo sabor e mesma composição, um intervalo intertentativas e o início de uma nova tentativa. Na Fase 2, respostas em FR1 no segundo elo foram seguidas pela apresentação de amostras de sucos de mesma quantidade, mesmo sabor, porém de composição tradicional em um elo terminal e light no outro elo terminal, um intervalo intertentativas e o início de uma nova tentativa. Na Fase 3, foram adicionados, primeiramente, dois estímulos contextuais consistentes com o arranjo estrutural, indicando a composição das amostras de suco que seriam disponibilizadas em cada alternativa. Posteriormente, os estímulos contextuais se tornaram inconsistentes com o arranjo estrutural, indicando erroneamente a composição das amostras de suco que seriam disponibilizadas em cada alternativa. As sessões ocorreram em média três vezes na semana e apresentaram tempo variado, tendo 10 minutos de duração a mais longa. Os resultados mostram que humanos têm dificuldades de emitir padrão maximizado de escolhas em esquemas de reforçamento concorrentes encadeados, que apresentam alta sensibilidade em relação às diferentes taxas de reforço dos esquemas concorrentes e discriminam as concentrações de açúcar de amostras de sucos de composição tradicional e light.

The purpose of this research is to determine if loss aversion is replicable as an overt behavioral response to potential gains and losses in complex, recurring, uncertain, and risky choice with real gains and losses of money and food. Cognitive methods used to determine the effect of loss have primarily measured verbal response to hypothetical choice scenarios in which participants cognitively predict their behavior in a series of bets or situations involving imagined monetary gains and losses. Less has been done using behavioral methods that measure overt behavioral response to gains and losses of actual commodities. The present study uses the experimental analysis of behavior to measure the asymmetrical effect of loss in multiple choice domains. A series of four experiments investigated four factors likely to affect the expression and degree of loss aversion: (a) learning and experience with consequences of choice; (b) real gains and losses instead of hypothetical quantities or imagined commodities; (c) gains and losses of a non-quantitative, primary reinforcer (food); and (d) the menstrual cycle. Participants played one of two computer games in which they earned or lost coins or food tokens exchanged for real food. Participants (N = 27, 15 women) played several 18-minute sessions in gains-only conditions and 16 sessions in 36-minute gains+punishment conditions. Recurring, complex, uncertain, and risky choice was simulated in the games by using 6-ply interdependent concurrent variable interval schedules of reinforcement (gains) and punishment (losses). Choice behavior with real gains and losses of money and food was modeled using the generalized matching law, allowing for the quantification of the effects of potential loss, relative to gains, as a change in bias and sensitivity. Loss aversion was operationalized as gain-loss asymmetry ratios derived from bias estimates produced in unpunished and punished choice conditions. Gain-loss asymmetry was replicated in both women and men in complex, recurring, uncertain, and risky choice with potential gains and losses of real money and food. Average gain-loss asymmetry ratios were 3 to 6 times greater in choice with money and 4 to 16 times greater in choice with food than those reported in the cognitive and behavioral literature. Although individual differences in response to loss were striking, the asymmetrically larger behavioral effects of loss, relative to gains, were nearly ubiquitous. Marked disruption in sensitivity to reinforcement was observed in punished choice for most participants, but for 33% of participants in choice with money and 42% in choice with food, sensitivity to reinforcers increased. No evidence was found for behavioral choice varying with the menstrual cycle.