Effects of Delay and Signals on Choice between Delayed Food Alone and Immediate Food with Delayed Shock

Much of the research in the area of self-control has examined choice between small immediate reinforcers and large delayed reinforcers, but many problems result from situations in which a single choice produces consequences of conflicting valence: Those in which the immediate outcome is reinforcing and the delayed outcome is aversive. Recent research has evaluated how preference for a large reinforcer which is followed by a delayed shock changes as a function of the delay to shock and how the intensity and duration of delayed shock affects the value of a large reinforcer. The present set of experiments investigated how the value of a food reinforcer followed by delayed shock changes as a function of the delay to shock. Instead of arranging choice between small and large reinforcers, the present experiments arranged choice between two reinforcers of equal magnitude – one of which was delivered after a delay, and the other was delivered immediately and followed by delayed shock. Rats chose between the consequences by pressing one of two levers. Using an adjusting-delay procedure, adjustments were made in the delay to food based on the rats’ choices. Exclusive choice of delayed food raised the delay to food in subsequent trials; exclusive choice of immediate food with delayed shock reduced the delay to food in subsequent trials. Adjustments continued until the both consequences were chosen equally often and the delay to food stabilized. The mean delay over this stable period was taken as an estimate of the indifference point – the delay at which the delayed food alone was equal in value to the immediate food followed by delayed shock. In Experiment 1, indifference points were identified across conditions with different delays to shock. The shock devalued the immediate food to the greatest extent when the delay to shock was short, and the effects of shock weakened as the delay was raised. In Experiment 2, indifference points were identified across conditions in which either the delay to shock or the presence of a signaling procedure was manipulated. As in Experiment 1, effects of shock were greatest when the delay was short and weakened as the delay was raised. Signaling the delayed shock did not influence effects of the shock systematically. Additional analyses of the adjusting delay, latency to press each lever, and the fit of hyperbolas based on Mazur’s (1987) hyperbolic discounting equation to indifference points were conducted for both experiments. The results from the present experiments are discussed in the context of laboratory research on choice that produces both reinforcing and aversive consequences and on effects of signaling aversive events

Disruptions in Operant Behavior of Pigeons in Transitions across Rich and Lean Schedules of Reinforcement With and Without Advance Notice of the Lean Schedule

Advance notice refers to procedures in which a stimulus is provided to signal the end of an ongoing activity and the nature of the upcoming activity. Applied research has considered whether advance notice will reduce the problem behavior that sometimes occurs during transitions. Interpretation of this research is complicated by procedural variations in the type of transitions arranged, the consequences of transition-related problem behavior, the method of providing advance notice, and the measurement of the effects of advance notice. The present experiment investigated effects of advance notice using an animal model of transition-related problem behavior. Key-pecking was maintained on a two-component multiple schedule. In the lean component, completing a fixed-ratio produced access to food pellets for a short time; in the rich component, completing the ratio produced longer access. The problem behavior was measured as the disruption in pecking that occurred in the transition between rich and lean components. Advance notice was provided in some conditions by flashing the houselight in half of the ratios preceding a lean component. In the present experiment, advance notice did not reduce disruptions in pecking. Instead, when advance notice had any effect, it extended the disruptions. Additional analyses revealed that delivery of notice also disrupted responding within the ratios. The results from the present experiment are discussed in the context of applied research on advance notice

Frequent Use of Contingency Management and Opioid Treatment Programs that Provide Treatment for More than Only Opioid Use Disorder

Contingency management is an effective behavioral intervention for treating substance use disorders that provides patients with incentives for objective verification of completed targeted recovery behaviors including abstinence from substances, attending treatment, and medication adherence. Accredited/licensed opioid treatment programs provide effective, medications for opioid use disorder. This study evaluated the prevalence of frequent contingency management use among a national sample of opioid treatment programs in the U.S. (N= 672). A binary logistic regression model examined factors associated with providing contingency management, including state-level fatal overdoses, number of pharmacotherapies, outpatient treatment, facility ownership, and residential treatment. Most evaluated facilities provided contingency management (n=440; 65.5%). Facilities that prescribed more pharmacotherapies, were located in states with high drug overdose death rates, and for-profit (compared to nonprofit) providers were more likely to offer contingency management. Because contingency management effectively treats substance use disorders, contingency management should be offered more broadly across opioid treatment program

Investigating Smoking on a University Campus

Color poster with text, graphs, charts, and maps.The purpose of this study was to utilize direct observation to obtain information on the frequency with which smoking occurs in areas designated by the university as smoking and non-smoking areas, and to investigate variables that may be associated with smoking frequency, such as time, temperature, and location.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Classroom Projects to Motivate Student Involvement in Behaviorally-based Community Initiatives

Color poster with text and graphs.Service to the community is a valued practice, essential to optimize many city operations we enjoy as individuals. Indeed, the University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire places such a high value on such activities that service learning is a requirement for graduation, offering "rich experiences for UWEC students and substantial benefits for the community" (Center for Service Learning, UWEC). In the psychology course, Experimental Analysis of Behavior, students have been instructed to draft proposals around a research idea that could feasibly be implemented to benefit the local community of Eau Claire. The purpose of this study was to highlight several of the projects the students have focused on over the past year.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Evaluating Instructor Preference in Children with Developmental Disabilities

Color poster with text and graphs.With the increased incidence of autism over the past few decades, there has been a proliferation of companies providing therapy in the homes of children with autism. Most companies hire untrained individuals to provide therapy in the home where the child resides. To date, no research has been published evaluating whether children with autism have a preference between hired therapists, or between hired therapists vs. parents. The purpose of this study was to assess preference for instructor using a paired stimulus forced choice procedure. The current study also evaluated the accuracy of participant responding for maintenance skills across all instructors.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Effects of incentivizing viral suppression in previously incarcerated adults living with HIV

Background: The amount of HIV in a person’s blood can be suppressed to an undetectable level through antiretroviral therapy medications (ART). Adhering to an ART regimen can improve a person’s health and reduce HIV transmission. Despite these benefits, many people with HIV do not maintain the level of adherence required to achieve an undetectable viral load. This problem is particularly common among people who have been incarcerated. Objective: To determine effects of incentivizing viral suppression in previously incarcerated adults with HIV. Methods: Adults with HIV (N = 102) and detectable viral load (>200 copies/mL) were randomly assigned to a Usual Care or Incentive group. Usual Care participants did not earn incentives for viral suppression. Incentive participants earned incentives ($10/day maximum) for providing blood samples with a reduced or undetectable (<200 copies/mL) viral load. Assessments were conducted every 3 months. Results collected during the first year were aggregated and compared based on group assignment and incarceration history. Results: Previously incarcerated participants in the Incentive group provided more (OR: 2.9; CI: 1.3-6.8; p <.05) blood samples with an undetectable viral load (69%) than those in the Usual Care group (41%). Never-incarcerated participants in the Incentive group provided more (OR: 6.8; CI: 2.2-21.0; p <.01) blood samples with an undetectable viral load (78%) than those in the Usual Care group (36%). Effects of incentives did not differ by incarceration history. Conclusions: Incentivizing viral suppression can increase viral suppression (undetectable viral load) in people who have been incarcerated