Food deprivation and free-operant avoidance in the pigeon

Abstract

Two pigeons were trained with a free-operant voidance schedule requiring a treadle response. Subsequent reduction in body weight to 80% increased the normally low shock rate, especially shock programmed by the response-shock interval. Ninety percent body weight resulted in a similar but, generally, less pronounced effect. For one S, response rate was an increasing function of body weight. © 1973, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.