The effects of rate and amount of reinforcement on the speed of the pacemaker in pigeons' timing behavior

Abstract

The peak-time procedure was used with pigeons to explore assumptions of two models of time perception: scalar expectancy theory (SET) and behavioral theory of timing (BeT). Conditions 1A and 1B varied fixed-interval duration to change rate of reinforcement. Condition 2 varied hopper duration in order to manipulate arousal level. Condition 3 held constant the interval to be timed (fixed-interval duration) but varied rate of reinforcement by interspersing trials in which only the chamber light came on for a duration equal to the fixed interval. Results from Conditions 1A, 1B, and 3 show that the speed of the pacemaker (1/τ) was directly proportional to the rate of reinforcement, thus supporting BeT. Manipulations of the hopper duration had no effect on the timing process. © 1991 Psychonomic Society, Inc.