Discriminated time-out avoidance in pigeons

Performances of two pigeons were studied on a concurrent discriminated TO avoidance-VR schedule. Each avoidance response postponed a TO from a VR 140 for a specified RS interval. The warning stimulus on the TO avoidance schedule was a discontinuous clock which consisted of a series of discrete color changes that varied systematically with the RS interval. Experimental manipulations established that the avoidance behavior was under the control of the avoidance schedule and the discontinuous clock. Five-min TOs maintained higher avoidance rates than shorter TO durations; a 15-min TO maintained less avoidance responding than the 5-min TO. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride increased TO avoidance behavior and decreased concurrent VR behavior.