Behavior induced by periodic food delivery: the effects of interfood interval.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 39 (2):
309-322 (March 1983)Abstract
Examined the effect of interfood interval (II) on the types, frequencies, and distributions of activities in 8 male White Carneaux pigeons. Ss were exposed to fixed-time schedules of food presentation ranging from 5 to 300 sec. Although stereotyped response patterns developed during IIs on all schedules, there were distinct differences in the behavior observed on schedules with short, as opposed to long, intervals. During shorter intervals, responses were performed vigorously, a feeder-directed terminal response was observed, and most activities were localized near the feeder. On longer schedules, the predominant response involved moving about the chamber, often pacing along a wall. Behavior during IIs may more accurately be classified as reflecting a single (food) motivational state and described simply in terms of W. Craig's (1918) appetitive behavior.