Criticisms of the satiety hypothesis as an explanation for within-session decreases in responding

Article Abstract:

This article challenges current findings that present stimulus satiation as the primary cause of decreases in conditioned responses during an experimental session. This hypothesis is refuted based on ambiguous use of satiation as an experimental variable and clearly established research that provides evidence for the role of habituation in within-session changes.

Psychological aspects, Methods, Psychology, Conditioned response, Conditioned responses, Stimulus satiation, Psychological methods

Habituation contributes to within-session changes in free wheel running

Article Abstract:

The hypothesis that habituation contribute to the regulation of wheel running is tested by conducting rats run in a wheel for 30-min sessions. The sensitization-habituation theory analyzes the spontaneous recovery, dishabituation and stimulus specificity, the three fundamental characteristics of behaviour undergoing habituation.

Science & research

Habituation to the reinforcer may contribute to multiple-schedule behavioral contrast

Article Abstract:

Research was conducted to examine the relationship between habituation and multiple-schedule behavioral contrast based on several and often contradictory literature. It is concluded that habituation to the reinforcer contributes to contrast. Negative contrast occurs when improving the reinforcers increase habituation while positive contrast takes place when decreasing the reinforcers generates less habituation. Thus, reinforcers delivered during constant component are more important and generate a higher rate of responding.

Reinforcement (Psychology), Operant behavior, Operant conditioning