| Abstract: | Investigated changes in response rate of 8 male Fisher rats to increases in air pressure. 2 groups were exposed for 30 min to 0, 90, 135, and 180 psig via a counterbalanced Latin square design. 1 group was stabilized on a fixed-ratio (FR) 30-sec schedule while the other was stabilized on a differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate (DRL) 15-sec schedule. As pressure was increased: (a) DRL 15-sec response rate increased while FR 30-sec remained unchanged; and (b) time spent responding was less for both groups, with FR 30-sec showing the greater reduction. Behavior changes during the 1st 15 min were attributed to environmental changes accompanying pressurization and increased pressure of nitrogen; changes during the 2nd 15 min were attributed primarily to increased pressure of nitrogen. (20 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
