Reprint of “Acquisition of choice in concurrent chains: Assessing the cumulative decision model”

• Concurrent chains is widely-used to study choice between terminal-link outcomes that can vary in delay, magnitude and probability of reward.
• Most prior studies have used steady-state designs, but recently there has been growing interest in acquisition of choice in concurrent chains.
• Different research designs used in acquisition with concurrent chains are reviewed.
• Results show that choice adjusts rapidly in single sessions and is mediated by learning about the terminal link stimulus-reinforcer relations.
• The cumulative decision model proposed by Grace and colleagues provides a good account of most results.

Concurrent chains is widely used to study pigeons’ choice between terminal links that can vary in delay, magnitude, or probability of reinforcement. We review research on the acquisition of choice in this procedure. Acquisition has been studied with a variety of research designs, and some studies have incorporated no-food trials to allow for timing and choice to be observed concurrently. Results show that: Choice can be acquired rapidly within sessions when terminal links change unpredictably; under steady-state conditions, acquisition depends on both initial- and terminal-link schedules; and initial-link responding is mediated by learning about the terminal-link stimulus-reinforcer relations. The cumulative decision model (CDM) proposed by Christensen and Grace (2010) and Grace and McLean, 2006 and Grace and McLean, 2015 provides a good description of within-session acquisition, and correctly predicts the effects of initial and terminal-link schedules in steady-state designs (Grace, 2002a). Questions for future research include how abrupt shifts in preference within individual sessions and temporal control of terminal-link responding can be modeled.