Effects of withheld reinforcement on timing behavior of rats with limbic lesions.

Abstract

Tested 15 male albino Sprague-Dawley and 12 Charles River rats with septal or cingulate lesions on an 8-sec or .6-sec DRL schedule of reinforcement. Results showed that timing efficiency of Ss with septal lesions was reduced below control levels when they were required to suppress responding for 1.2 sec. or longer. When reinforcements were periodically withheld following a correct timing response, rates for all Ss accelerated. The increase in rate was greatest for Ss with septal lesions when their base-line reinforcement rate was equal to that of the controls. Findings are attributed to the aversive properties of contingent response suppression and of omission of reinforcement. Ss with cingulate lesions were no different than controls. Results are discussed in relation to the performance of organized complex sequences of behavior. (29 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)