A comparison of resetting and nonresetting contingencies in progressive-duration schedules

- We examined two variations of progressive-duration schedules in rats.
- One schedule allowed duration to accrue across multiple lever presses; the other required single presses to meet criteria.
- Breaking points under both schedules were sensitive to motivating operations.
- Food deprivation increased the number of short response durations under both schedules.

We compared two progressive schedules of reinforcement in which rats received access to sweetened condensed milk for depressing and holding down a response lever. Duration requirements increased after each reinforcer delivery in a manner similar to progressive-ratio schedules. Under one schedule, any response duration less than that required for reinforcement had no programmed consequences. Under the second schedule, the cumulative duration of all responses could meet the reinforcement criteria. Breaking points were consistently higher when all lever presses, regardless of duration, contributed to meeting the reinforcer requirements. Breaking points under both schedules increased when food deprivation was long enough to result in body-weight reductions, but the sensitivity of the schedules to brief periods of food deprivation was inconsistent. Under both schedules, food deprivation produced an increase in shorter durations, thus reducing the efficiency of responding.