Eccentric stimuli on multiple fixed-interval schedules

The effects of presenting a different (“eccentric”) stimulus for one interval during either or both components of a cyclic multiple fixed-interval fixed-interval schedule, with 12 short and four long intervals per cycle, were studied in three experiments. Eccentric stimuli in the short-interval component reliably produced a persistent, substantial elevation in key-peck rate. The effect appears to depend on schedule context and an initial “disinhibiting” effect of the eccentric stimulus.