Effects of eye movements on the recognition and localization of dichotic stimuli

Three experiments examined the effect of gaze shifts on overall performance and ear differences in dichotic listening. In the first two experiments, lights were switched on and off so as to induce rightward, leftward, or upward gaze during dichotic stimulation. The dichotic material consisted of musical passages in Experiment 1 and two kinds of verbal material in Experiment 2. Vertical eye movements enhanced the accuracy of identification of music but not verbal material. The lateral direction of eye movements affected subjects' ability to localize targets in Experiment 1: localization was more accurate in the direction toward which subjects were looking. In the third experiment it was found that optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) influenced the asymmetry of performance on a dichotic consonant-vowel (CV) test. The right-ear advantage was greatest when the OKN drum rotated from left to right and least when it rotated from right to left. The effect was due to corresponding variation in left-ear scores. Possible mechanisms through which shifts of gaze affect auditory identification and localization are proposed.     

Caloric balancing and sucrose intake of hamsters and gerbils

In Experiment 1, hamsters and gerbils were randomly assigned to groups that were given a choice between pairs of sucrose solutions differing in concentration. The groups consisted of a control along with the following pairs: 2% and 6%; 2% and 8%; 2% and 12%; 2% and 18%; 6% and 8%; 6% and 12%; 6% and 18%; 12% and 18%. They were tested for 15 days, and the results indicated that the animals drank more from the cylinder containing the higher concentration. The principle of "least consummatory effort" appeared to be substantiated by these results. In Experiment 2, other hamsters and gerbils were randomly assigned to one of six groups receiving either 0.5%, 2%, 6%, 10%, 14%, or 18% sucrose solution. Analysis of their intake of sucrose and Purina Lab Chow indicated that their total caloric intake was relatively constant, reflecting the fact that an increase of consumption of the solutes in the sucrose solution reduced their intake of the stock diet. The results from both experiments indicated that although the caloric intake of hamsters relative to body weight was greater than that of gerbils, the proportion of total calories taken from sucrose was greater for the latter than for the former.     

Social preference of female gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) as influenced by coat color of males

Female gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) of three distinct coat colors (agouti, black, and sandy or pink-eyed dilution) were tested in a Y-maze whose arms led to compartments containing unfamiliar male gerbils of varying coat colors. The stimulus animals were separated from the females by a Plexiglas door. The trials lasted for 2 min and each female was exposed to the following four combinations: two males of the same coloring as the female; one male of the same color and another of a different color from the female; both males of different color from the female. The number of crossings to the left and right arms was relayed by photocells to an IBM PC computer. The results indicate that agouti females preferred visiting the arm occupied by agouti males while those of the other coat colors showed no preference for the "wild-type" males. Instead, sandy and black female gerbils preferred to be in proximity with those of non-wild types.     

Treating criminal psychopaths in a therapeutic community program

A Therapeutic Community (TC) treatment program for adult male offenders is summarized and treatment outcome data are discussed. Psychopaths showed less clinical improvement, displayed lower levels of motivation and were discharged from the program earlier than non-psychopaths. There were significant positive treatment effects for the non-psychopaths and a mixed group. Psychopathy Checklist scores (Hare, 1985) consistently postdict and predict treatment outcome and attrition from the program.     

Providing independent recreational activities to reduce stereotypic vocalizations in chronic schizophrenics.

We evaluated the effects of minimally supervised, independent recreational activities on stereotypic vocal behavior in two chronic schizophrenic patients. In baseline sessions, subjects were observed during unstructured free time in the psychiatric ward. In treatment sessions, therapists presented preferred recreational materials (magazines, models, and art projects), verbally prompted on-task behavior every 20 min, and, in one condition, administered contingent tokens. Independent recreational activities reduced medium-rate self-talk in one subject and high-rate mumbling in a second subject by 60%-70%. Results were the same with or without contingent tokens. Apparent self-maintaining characteristics of these vocal responses are discussed.     

Feeding inhibition produced by concurrent sucrose ingestion in gerbils and hamsters

The daily 1-h intake of solid diet, 7% sucrose solution, and water of gerbils and hamsters tested for a 15-day period was investigated. Results of Experiment 1 indicated that gerbils provided with sucrose solution in addition to Purina rat chow showed an inhibition of food intake relative to control gerbils not given access to sucrose solution. However, experimental animals did not differ from control animals in either body weight loss or total caloric intake. For Experiment 2, results indicated that hamsters provided with sucrose solution in addition to sunflower seeds did not differ in their daily 1-h intake of seeds from control hamsters that had access to sunflower seeds. In Experiment 3, gerbils were tested under the same conditions as those of Experiment 2, and results indicated that concurrent sucrose ingestion inhibited the intake of sunflower seeds. The implications of these species differences in reactions to the test conditions are discussed.     

Group interpersonal skills training in a natural setting: an experimental study.

This study assessed effectiveness of group interpersonal skills training conducted in a natural setting with nonanalogue clients. Subjects (Ss) in a behavioral-training condition received 4 hr of instruction consisting of modeling, behavioral rehearsal, coaching, feedback and reinforcement. Training focused on positive and negative social responses and on initiating interactions, as well as reacting to interactions initiated by others. Subjects in a discussion-control condition engaged in focused discussion of interpersonal concerns but received no experiential practice. Within a pre-test-post-test control group design, subjective and objective measures were used to assess training effects. When compared to Ss involved in group discussion. Ss participating in group behavioral training revealed greater pre- to post-test changes on selfreported probability of engaging in selected interpersonal responses and on objective measures of eye contact, speech duration, positive affective responses, use of no-statements, compliance, refusals and requests for new behavior. Support for generalization of training is presented and methodological issues are discussed.     

Durable partial reinforcement effects and social dominance in the rat

Following partial reinforcement (PRF) or consistent reinforcement (CRF) of an approach response in a straight runway and experimental extinction, rats were given the arena food-dominance test in Experiment 1 and both the arena test and the tunnel-dominance test in Experiment 2. PRF subjects were dominant in the tunnel test, but subordinate in the arena test, regardless of which dominance test was given first. These durable and pervasive effects of partial reinforcement training can be interpreted in terms of frustration theory.     

Does delay of reinforcement produce durable persistence?

In a foru-phase experiment, phase I was runway training under four different reinforcement conditions: partial reinforcement (PRF), partial delayed reinforcement (PDR), constant delayed reinforcement (CDR), and consistent reinforcement (CRF). During phase 2 extinction, PRF and PDR groups did not differ; both groups were more persistent than group CDR, which was in turn superior to the CRF control. Phase 3 was CRF reacquisition for all groups. During phase 4 extinction, PRF group was more presistent than the other three groups which did not differ. A Pavlovian counter-conditioning hypothesis was proposed to account for the absence of durable persistence following PDR training.