Efectos de la frecuencia y demora de reforzamiento sobre el desarrollo de un estímulo como reforzador condicionado

Efectos de la frecuencia y demora de reforzamiento sobre el desarrollo de un estímulo como reforzador condicionado

Effects of frequency and delay of reinforcement on the development of a stimulus as a conditioned reinforcer

L. Rebeca Mateos Morfín y Carlos Flores

Universidad de Guadalajara

Abstract

Conditioned reinforcement properties of a stimulus were compared under signaled and unsignaled delays, and different reinforcement frequencies. Four groups of rats, each with different inter-reinforcer interval (16 vs. 64 s), or signaled and unsignaled delays, were exposed to four delay values across phases (0, 4, 8, and 12 s). Similarly, conditioned reinforcement tests were performed under extinction conditions, wherein the primary reinforcer was replaced by the delay stimulus. For all groups, an orderly-decreasing response rate was observed as delay values increased. Differences were observed during the test, as the highest response rate was observed for the signaled-delay and the low reinforcement-frequency (64 s) subjects. Results are discussed by recognizing the consistent and inconsistent findings reported in the area, and according the conditioned reinforcement strength developed by the stimulus.

Key words: delayed reinforcement, frequency of reinforcement, signaled and unsignaled delay, conditioned reinforcement, rats.

Resumen