| Pigeons' discounting of probabilistic and delayed reinforcers. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 21451742 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Pigeons' discounting of probabilistic and delayed food reinforcers was studied using adjusting-amount procedures. In the probability discounting conditions, pigeons chose between an adjusting number of food pellets contingent on a single key peck and a larger, fixed number of pellets contingent on completion of a variable-ratio schedule. In the delay discounting conditions, pigeons chose between an adjusting number of pellets delivered immediately and a larger, fixed number of pellets delivered after a delay. Probability discounting (i.e., subjective value as a function of the odds against reinforcement) was as well described by a hyperboloid function as delay discounting was (i.e., subjective value as a function of the time until reinforcement). As in humans, the exponents of the hyperboloid function when it was fitted to the probability discounting data were lower than the exponents of the hyperboloid function when it was fitted to the delay discounting data. The subjective values of probabilistic reinforcers were strongly correlated with predictions based on simply substituting the average delay to their receipt in each probabilistic reinforcement condition into the hyperboloid discounting function. However, the subjective values were systematically underestimated using this approach. Using the discounting function proposed by Mazur (1989), which takes into account the variability in the delay to the probabilistic reinforcers, the accuracy with which their subjective values could be predicted was increased. Taken together, the present findings are consistent with Rachlin's (Rachlin, 1990; Rachlin, Logue, Gibbon, & Frankel, 1986) hypothesis that choice involving repeated gambles may be interpreted in terms of the delays to the probabilistic reinforcers. |
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Authors:
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Leonard Green; Joel Myerson; Amanda L Calvert |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior Volume: 94 ISSN: 1938-3711 ISO Abbreviation: J Exp Anal Behav Publication Date: 2010 Sep |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2011-03-31 Completed Date: 2011-08-18 Revised Date: 2012-02-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0203727 Medline TA: J Exp Anal Behav Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 113-23 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Washington University, Department of Psychology, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA. lgreen@wustl.edu |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Animals Choice Behavior* Columbidae Conditioning, Operant* Female Food Models, Psychological Neuropsychological Tests Probability Learning* Reinforcement (Psychology)* Reinforcement Schedule Reward |
| Grant Support | |
ID/Acronym/Agency:
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MH055308/MH/NIMH NIH HHS; R01 MH055308-16/MH/NIMH NIH HHS |
| Comments/Corrections | |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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