Dougan, Faculty Advisor, James D.

Kennedy, Colleen M.

Digital Commons @ Illinois Wesleyan University

Illinois Wesleyan UniversityDigital Commons @ IWUJohn Wesley Powell Student ResearchConference 1995, 6th Annual JWP ConferenceApr 22nd, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PMOlfactory Cues on Rats Responding on a SimpleVariable Interval ScheduleColleen M. KennedyIllinois Wesleyan UniversityJames D. Dougan, Faculty AdvisorIllinois Wesleyan UniversityFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/jwprcThis Event is brought to you for free and open access by The Ames Library, the Andrew W. Mellon Center for Curricular and FacultyDevelopment, the Office of the Provost and the Office of the President. It has been accepted for inclusion in Digital Commons @ IWU bythe faculty at Illinois Wesleyan University. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@iwu.edu.©Copyright is owned by the author of this document.Colleen M. Kennedy and James D. Dougan, Faculty Advisor, "Olfactory Cues on Rats Responding on a Simple VariableInterval Schedule" (April 22, 1995). John Wesley Powell Student Research Conference. Paper 23.http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/jwprc/1995/posters/23OLFACTORY CUES ON RATS RESPONDING ON A SIMPLE VARIABLE INTERV AL SCHEDULE Colleen M. Kennedy and James D. Dougan"', Department of Psychology, IWU Biological variables need to be examined in operant conditioning studies. Optimal foraging theory (Lea, 1982) and behavior systems theory (Timberlake & Lucas, 1989) support the effectiveness of representing natural foraging in the laboratory, with operant conditioning in particular. In the present study, six rats were exposed to three scent conditions (fox, none, perfume) while bar pressing on a variable interval 60s schedule. Responding was expected to decrease during the fox scent condition because the fox is a natural predator for rats. The results indicated no significant difference between the three scent conditions. Further research should look into using other biological variables and also investigate the use of different scents. 

Olfactory Cues on Rats Responding on a Simple Variable Interval Schedule

http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1350&context=jwprc

Olfactory Cues on Rats Responding on a Simple Variable Interval Schedule

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Digital Commons @ Illinois Wesleyan University