An automatic feeder for liquids and wet or dry solids

An inexpensive and simple, remote-control conveyor-belt feeder is described. The feeder handles liquids and wet or dry solids.     

An automatic device for toilet training

A chain of subject-initiated toileting behavior was established and maintained in three enuretic and encopretic profoundly retarded adults through the use of an automatic device which both monitored eliminations and dispensed candy reinforcers. When the device reinforced elimination, the incidence of urinations and defecations in clothing was sharply reduced in each subject, while the frequency of appropriate toileting behavior increased. With the device nonoperative (extinction), the behavior relapsed toward pretraining levels. In reconditioning, with the device again functional, post-training levels were re-established. The device was reliable and was seen to eliminate many of the difficulties inherent in toilet training.     

An inexpensive universal feeder suitable for small numbers of large rations

This report describes a simple universal feeder designed for operant conditioning applications in zoo settings. The apparatus delivers up to six large rations of food. It is portable, easily serviced, and can be constructed in a modest carpentry shop.     

A pellet feeder for the birds

An alternative means of delivering food to pigeons in operant conditioning research is described. The feeder allows greater control of the amount of food delivered and reduces the amount of time necessary for the pigeon to collect the food. It is possible to extend the length of experimental sessions due to the reduction of food intake. Data obtained using the pellet feeder indicated that the control of responding is comparable to that observed with the standard grain-magazine feeder.     

An apparatus for the automatic presentation of object discriminations to monkeys

Object discriminations have traditionally been presented to monkeys by hand in the Wisconsin General Test Apparatus. This method is time-consuming and prone to various kinds of experimenter error. It has proved possible to administer object discriminations automatically by using a modification of the Gloster Saro VM 51 vending machine. This machine, which has space for up to 371 objects, moves them on trays by two electric motors, and the control circuits of these are adapted for external operation by relays and modular programming equipment. A series of simple object discriminations or a concurrent (serial) discrimination task can then be given by remote control. The objects are so treated that by touching either of them the animal completes a circuit, enabling the response to be recorded and appropriately reinforced. Learning in the apparatus seems to be about as efficient as in the Wisconsin General Test Apparatus.     

An automatic micropipette fluid dispenser

An automatic device for repeated dispensation of a precisely controlled amount of fluid is described. The device employs a repeating micropipette powered by an electric motor geared to a rack-and-pinion drive. In our particular application, thirsty rats work for 0.2-ml shots of water delivered to a metal spout connected to a drinkometer circuit. This arrangement permits the recording of both volumetric intake and the number of licks directed at the spout.     

An automatic recording system of the positional behavior of mice for experimental analysis

A device for automatic recording of a mouse positional behavior within a circular corridor-like cage is described. The animal’s position is successfully monitored by capacitor detection and its time spent at each position measured; the results are punched on the paper tape as binary coded numbers, and the data are processed off-line by a general-purpose computer.     

An evaluation of the Takeda UA751 automatic sphygmomanometer

The Takeda UA751, a simple automatic blood pressure measuring device, was compared with standard osciltatory measurement. There was little or no systematic difference in pressure determined by the automatic or manual method and the correlation between the two devices for both systolic and distolic pressure was satisfactory. This suggests that the Takeda UA751 is an appropriate device for patient self monitoring of blood pressure or as a measure of pressure in group outcome trials. The results essential replicate an evaluation by Steptoe and Molineux (Behav. Res. Ther. 24 223-226, 1986) of an earlier version of the Takeda (the Copal UA251) that used a different method for determining blood pressure.