Packet theory of conditioning and timing

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Abstract

Packet theory is based on the assumption that the momentary probability of producing a bout or packet of responding is controlled by the conditional expected time function. Bouts of head entry responses of rats into a food cup appear to have the same characteristics across a range of conditions. The conditional expected time function is the mean expected time remaining until the next food delivery as a function of time since an event such as food or stimulus onset. The conditional expected time function encodes mean interval duration as well as the distribution form so that both the mean response rate and form of responding in time can be predicted. Simulations of Packet theory produced accurate quantitative predictions of: (1) the effect of reinforcement density (mean food-food interval) and distribution form on responding; (2) scalar variance in fixed interval responding; (3) CS-US and intertrial interval effects on the strength of conditioning; and (4) the effect of the ratio of cycle:trial time on the strength of conditioning.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)89-106
Number of pages18
JournalBehavioural Processes
Volume57
Issue number2-3
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 28 2002
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Special thanks to Russell M. Church for his enduring support in all aspects of the empirical research and model development reported in this paper. I would also like to thank An Le for assistance with the explicit solution of the conditional expected time function and Peter Killeen and Armando Machado for their helpful suggestions on earlier drafts of the model here and elsewhere. A National Institute of Mental Health Grant MH44234 to Brown University supported this research. A National Research Service Award MH11691 from the National Institute of Mental Health supported KK.

Keywords

  • Animal
  • Behavior
  • Classical
  • Conditioning
  • Models
  • Theoretical
  • Time perception

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