Signaled transitions from rich (favorable) to lean (less favorable) schedules of reinforcement (i.e., rich-lean transitions) can disrupt operant behavior. Previous literature suggests that disruptions in these transitions could occur because individuals engage in other behavior that reduces contact with the schedule-correlated stimuli. My thesis project evaluated this possibility by using different stimuli to manipulate the ease by which rats could reduce contact with schedule-correlated stimuli during signaled rich-lean transitions. We arranged a two-component multiple fixed ratio-fixed ratio (FR-FR) schedule to evaluate effects of different types of schedule-correlated stimuli on pausing in rich-lean transitions using rat subjects. Components had equivalent FR requirements and were each signaled by unique schedule-correlated stimuli. In one component, rich, satisfying the FR requirement produced 3 food pellets. In the other component, lean, satisfying the FR requirement produced 1 food pellet. Each session consisted of 41 components arranged to produce 10 transitions of four types (rich-lean, rich-rich, lean-lean, lean-rich). Across conditions, we manipulated the type of stimuli that signaled the components. In one condition, Localized, the components were signaled by inserting one of two levers (e.g., right = rich, left = lean). In the other condition, Diffuse, the components operated on the same lever and were signaled by different tones (e.g., 500 Hz = rich, 1500 Hz = lean). Results obtained suggest that reducing contact with schedule-correlated stimuli could play a role in maintaining disruptions normally observed during rich-lean transitions.
","abstract_html":"<p>Signaled transitions from rich (favorable) to lean (less favorable) schedules of reinforcement (i.e., rich-lean transitions) can disrupt operant behavior. Previous literature suggests that disruptions in these transitions could occur because individuals engage in other behavior that reduces contact with the schedule-correlated stimuli. My thesis project evaluated this possibility by using different stimuli to manipulate the ease by which rats could reduce contact with schedule-correlated stimuli during signaled rich-lean transitions. We arranged a two-component multiple fixed ratio-fixed ratio (FR-FR) schedule to evaluate effects of different types of schedule-correlated stimuli on pausing in rich-lean transitions using rat subjects. Components had equivalent FR requirements and were each signaled by unique schedule-correlated stimuli. In one component, <em>rich, </em>satisfying the FR requirement produced 3 food pellets. In the other component, <em>lean, </em>satisfying the FR requirement produced 1 food pellet. Each session consisted of 41 components arranged to produce 10 transitions of four types (rich-lean, rich-rich, lean-lean, lean-rich). Across conditions, we manipulated the type of stimuli that signaled the components. In one condition, <em>Localized, </em>the components were signaled by inserting one of two levers (e.g., right = rich, left = lean). In the other condition, <em>Diffuse,</em> the components operated on the same lever and were signaled by different tones (e.g., 500 Hz = rich, 1500 Hz = lean). Results obtained suggest that reducing contact with schedule-correlated stimuli could play a role in maintaining disruptions normally observed during rich-lean transitions.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Yahrmarkt, Carson S"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Psychological Science","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Cory Toegel"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2023,"date_issued":"2023-08-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2023-08-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:24:24Z","subjects":["transitions","rich and lean components","fixed-ration","schedule-correlated stimuli","rats","Social and Behavioral Sciences"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/762","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Cory Toegel"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Yahrmarkt, Carson S"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2023-07-14T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychological Science"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["transitions","rich and lean components","fixed-ration","schedule-correlated stimuli","rats","Social and Behavioral Sciences"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/762"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Signaled transitions from rich (favorable) to lean (less favorable) schedules of reinforcement (i.e., rich-lean transitions) can disrupt operant behavior. Previous literature suggests that disruptions in these transitions could occur because individuals engage in other behavior that reduces contact with the schedule-correlated stimuli. My thesis project evaluated this possibility by using different stimuli to manipulate the ease by which rats could reduce contact with schedule-correlated stimuli during signaled rich-lean transitions. We arranged a two-component multiple fixed ratio-fixed ratio (FR-FR) schedule to evaluate effects of different types of schedule-correlated stimuli on pausing in rich-lean transitions using rat subjects. Components had equivalent FR requirements and were each signaled by unique schedule-correlated stimuli. In one component, rich, satisfying the FR requirement produced 3 food pellets. In the other component, lean, satisfying the FR requirement produced 1 food pellet. Each session consisted of 41 components arranged to produce 10 transitions of four types (rich-lean, rich-rich, lean-lean, lean-rich). Across conditions, we manipulated the type of stimuli that signaled the components. In one condition, Localized, the components were signaled by inserting one of two levers (e.g., right = rich, left = lean). In the other condition, Diffuse, the components operated on the same lever and were signaled by different tones (e.g., 500 Hz = rich, 1500 Hz = lean). Results obtained suggest that reducing contact with schedule-correlated stimuli could play a role in maintaining disruptions normally observed during rich-lean transitions.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Control of Pausing in Rich-Lean Transitions by Spatially Localized and Spatially Diffuse Stimuli"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Cory Toegel"],"dc:creator":["Yahrmarkt, Carson S"],"dc:date.available":["2023-07-14T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Signaled transitions from rich (favorable) to lean (less favorable) schedules of reinforcement (i.e., rich-lean transitions) can disrupt operant behavior. Previous literature suggests that disruptions in these transitions could occur because individuals engage in other behavior that reduces contact with the schedule-correlated stimuli. My thesis project evaluated this possibility by using different stimuli to manipulate the ease by which rats could reduce contact with schedule-correlated stimuli during signaled rich-lean transitions. We arranged a two-component multiple fixed ratio-fixed ratio (FR-FR) schedule to evaluate effects of different types of schedule-correlated stimuli on pausing in rich-lean transitions using rat subjects. Components had equivalent FR requirements and were each signaled by unique schedule-correlated stimuli. In one component, rich, satisfying the FR requirement produced 3 food pellets. In the other component, lean, satisfying the FR requirement produced 1 food pellet. Each session consisted of 41 components arranged to produce 10 transitions of four types (rich-lean, rich-rich, lean-lean, lean-rich). Across conditions, we manipulated the type of stimuli that signaled the components. In one condition, Localized, the components were signaled by inserting one of two levers (e.g., right = rich, left = lean). In the other condition, Diffuse, the components operated on the same lever and were signaled by different tones (e.g., 500 Hz = rich, 1500 Hz = lean). Results obtained suggest that reducing contact with schedule-correlated stimuli could play a role in maintaining disruptions normally observed during rich-lean transitions.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/762"],"dc:subject":["transitions","rich and lean components","fixed-ration","schedule-correlated stimuli","rats","Social and Behavioral Sciences"],"dc:title":["Control of Pausing in Rich-Lean Transitions by Spatially Localized and Spatially Diffuse Stimuli"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychological Science"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:24:24Z"}