Publications [#288144] of John E. Staddon
search www.pbs.duke.edu.Papers Published
- Staddon, JER; Chelaru, IM; Higa, JJ, A tuned-trace theory of interval-timing dynamics.,
Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior, vol. 77 no. 1
(January, 2002),
pp. 105-124 [Gateway.cgi], [doi] .
(last updated on 2025/03/09)Abstract:
Animals on interval schedules of reinforcement can rapidly adjust a temporal dependent variable, such as wait time, to changes in the prevailing interreinforcement interval. We describe data on the effects of impulse, step, sine-cyclic, and variable-interval schedules and show that they can be explained by a tuned-trace timing model with a one-back threshold-setting rule. The model can also explain steady-state timing properties such as proportional and Weber law timing and the effects of reinforcement magnitude. The model assumes that food reinforcers and other time markers have a decaying effect (trace) with properties that can be derived from the rate-sensitive property of habituation (the multiple-time-scale model). In timing experiments, response threshold is determined by the trace value at the time of the most recent reinforcement. The model provides a partial account for the learning of multiple intervals, but does not account for scalloping and other postpause features of responding on interval schedules and has some problems with square-wave schedules.