The present study investigated how heightened P3a effects may be induced using a free-operant paradigm rather than traditional two and three stimulus oddballs. This was accomplished by using a fixed set of stimuli and mixed FR5 and VR5 reinforcement schedules. Most participants showed heightened P3a effects in the VR5 conditions, but a few participants did not. The data for the group that did not show the P3a effect in their data were variable, and definite conclusions about the factors related to the non-occurrence of the P3a were not researched. Despite this, there appears to be a relation between operant behavior dimensions (i.e., reaction time and response rate) and the P3a effect, with higher reaction times and lower response rates correlated to more significant P3a effects. Limitations discussed include the use of too simple of a behavioral topography and the lack of anecdotal participant interviews that could shed light on deviant performances.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc1987048 |
| Date | 08 1900 |
| Creators | Bugg, Ryan M |
| Contributors | Ortu, Daniele, Rosales Ruiz, Jesús, Dracobly, Joseph |
| Publisher | University of North Texas |
| Source Sets | University of North Texas |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | Text |
| Rights | Public, Bugg, Ryan M, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights Reserved. |
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