A new technique for measuring thermoregulatory behavior in the rat

A tracking procedure was used to investigate the ability of rats to regulate their ambient temperature. Rats were placed in a chamber with two levers; depressions of one lever controlled a cold-water flow (11 degrees C) and the other controlled the flow of hot water (57 +/- 1 degrees C). If it alternated responses, the rat could regulate temperature within these two extremes. With training, this regulatory behavior resulted in a narrow environmental temperature range that approximated normal body temperature.     

A telemetry system for measuring chewing behavior in humans

A system is described for detecting and recording human chewing behavior. A small transmitter mounted in the side frame of eyeglasses was used to detect muscle movement associated with chewing. The transmitter signal was received and converted to a direct-current voltage which varied at a rate proportional to the S's chewing movement. Exploratory data are presented which suggest that individuals chew at about the same rate per second, but vary in the total number of chews emitted to consume the same amount of foodstuff.     

A device for measuring patterns of locomotor behavior in the earthworm

A simple device capable of eliciting and detecting earthworm locomotor activity is described and its use outlined. Movement is recorded as an animal crawls in a spoked, revolving wheel. The wheel permits peristaltic crawling, yet restricts the type and timing of other movements. As a result, records of activity differentiate the rate and patterning of peristaltic crawling from changes in bodily position.     

A new technique for measuring word processing time in reading

This paper reports some preliminary data on a “window-pointer” technique for measuring word processing time in reading. In this technique, almost all of the letters are masked on a page of text shown on a video monitor. The letters can be seen only through a “window” showing one word on one line. Subjects control the horizontal location of the window by moving a pointer left and right. When subjects want to move the window to the next line, the window is moved off the right end of the current line, and the pointer is moved back to the left. The window then reappears at the beginning of the next line. After some practice, subjects can move the window in approximate synchrony with their eyes, and can read the passage without any difficulty. The length of time the window spends on each word can then be used as a measure of word processing time. An analysis of these window durations indicates that they are similar in many respects to the gaze durations obtained with eye-movement monitoring techniques.     

A microcomputer-based technique for measuring response times in written protocols

We describe a computer system that can be used to collect response times simultaneously with written protocols. It is applicable to tasks in which written protocols and associated response times are of interest.     

A technique for the measurement of aggressive behavior in mice

This paper describes an apparatus permitting the study of aggressive behavior in mice. Aggressive behavior may be spontaneous or induced by means of an electric shock delivered through the tail.     

A technique for measuring eye-foot coordination without visual guidance

A device for studying adaptation to rearranged eye-foot coordination is described. The technique allows measurement of changes in the localization of a target with the foot without visual guidance of the responding limb.     

A technique for measuring processing load during speech production

A technique is presented for the measurement of fluctuations in processing demands during spontaneous speech. The technique consists of the analysis of errors on a secondary tracking task. Data are presented from illustrative samples of spontaneous speech; thus, evidence was found to suggest that one level of planning in speech is clauses that contain a single main verb. Evidence was also obtained that there is an increase in processing demands at the gap in subject relative and object relative clauses. It is concluded that the secondary tracking task is a useful technique that could be extended to studies of reading and speech comprehension.     

A simplified technique for conditioning respiratory mouth movements in fish

This report describes a simple technique and restraining device for investigating classically conditioned inhibition of respiration in the fish. The restraining device is seen as having wide applicability for investigations which necessitate the immobilization of the S.     

A technique for controlling behavior in natural life settings

A behavior control technique is presented, consisting primarily of having a patient give up some portion of his reinforcers (usually money) with the understanding that he must behave in therapeutically prescribed ways in his natural environment to re-earn the reinforcers. The critical features and requirements of the technique are discussed, various applications are suggested, and implications for research are drawn.     

A new technique for testing the eliciting effects of fish color patterns

This new technique provides an alternative to the use of stimulus fish with paint applied to their body surfaces or fish dummies for testing the eliciting effects of different color patterns. The stimulus fish are fitted with thin plastic suits, with the pattern to be tested painted on each suit. Small numbers of stimulus fish are required. They adjust readily to the suit and rarely show agitated movements during testing. Suited-up stimulus fish may better simulate the appearance of free-living conspecifics than dummy fish that show no breathing activity or unassisted swimming movements. At the same time, suited-up fish provide some variation in stimulus characteristics particularly relative to swimming movement.