Brushtail possums ('Trichosurus vulpecula') counting using response sequences under ratio reinforcement

Katrina H Clarke; Lewis Bizo; James S McEwan

Abstract

The aim of this study was to replicate the 'Mechner Counting Procedure' and conduct a variety of conditions to determine whether possums have the cognitive ability to count. Previous research has shown that animals are able to count the amount of responses they make and the number of light flashes that occur. Six brushtail possums participated in three conditions where FR responses were required to gain access to food reinforcement. Reinforcement was delivered either upon the completion of an FR response requirement on lever A, or on the completion of the FR on lever A, followed by an additional response on lever B. The results have shown that the possums do have the cognitive ability to count the number of responses they make. The mean response on lever B typically occurred slightly above the FR response requirement across conditions.

Original language	English
Pages	21-21
Publication status	Published - 2014
Event	NZABA 2014 Conference: 11th Annual Conference of the New Zealand Association for Behaviour Analysis - Dunedin, New Zealand Duration: 29 Aug 2014 → 31 Aug 2014

Conference

Conference	NZABA 2014 Conference: 11th Annual Conference of the New Zealand Association for Behaviour Analysis
City	Dunedin, New Zealand
Period	29/08/14 → 31/08/14

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Biological Psychology (Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, Physiological Psychology)
Psychological Methodology, Design and Analysis

Access to Document

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/17223

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Persistent link

Cite this

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title = "Brushtail possums ('Trichosurus vulpecula') counting using response sequences under ratio reinforcement",

abstract = "The aim of this study was to replicate the 'Mechner Counting Procedure' and conduct a variety of conditions to determine whether possums have the cognitive ability to count. Previous research has shown that animals are able to count the amount of responses they make and the number of light flashes that occur. Six brushtail possums participated in three conditions where FR responses were required to gain access to food reinforcement. Reinforcement was delivered either upon the completion of an FR response requirement on lever A, or on the completion of the FR on lever A, followed by an additional response on lever B. The results have shown that the possums do have the cognitive ability to count the number of responses they make. The mean response on lever B typically occurred slightly above the FR response requirement across conditions.",

keywords = "Biological Psychology (Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, Physiological Psychology), Psychological Methodology, Design and Analysis",

author = "Clarke, \{Katrina H\} and Lewis Bizo and McEwan, \{James S\}",

year = "2014",

language = "English",

pages = "21--21",

note = "NZABA 2014 Conference: 11th Annual Conference of the New Zealand Association for Behaviour Analysis ; Conference date: 29-08-2014 Through 31-08-2014",

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T1 - Brushtail possums ('Trichosurus vulpecula') counting using response sequences under ratio reinforcement

AU - Clarke, Katrina H

AU - Bizo, Lewis

AU - McEwan, James S

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - The aim of this study was to replicate the 'Mechner Counting Procedure' and conduct a variety of conditions to determine whether possums have the cognitive ability to count. Previous research has shown that animals are able to count the amount of responses they make and the number of light flashes that occur. Six brushtail possums participated in three conditions where FR responses were required to gain access to food reinforcement. Reinforcement was delivered either upon the completion of an FR response requirement on lever A, or on the completion of the FR on lever A, followed by an additional response on lever B. The results have shown that the possums do have the cognitive ability to count the number of responses they make. The mean response on lever B typically occurred slightly above the FR response requirement across conditions.

AB - The aim of this study was to replicate the 'Mechner Counting Procedure' and conduct a variety of conditions to determine whether possums have the cognitive ability to count. Previous research has shown that animals are able to count the amount of responses they make and the number of light flashes that occur. Six brushtail possums participated in three conditions where FR responses were required to gain access to food reinforcement. Reinforcement was delivered either upon the completion of an FR response requirement on lever A, or on the completion of the FR on lever A, followed by an additional response on lever B. The results have shown that the possums do have the cognitive ability to count the number of responses they make. The mean response on lever B typically occurred slightly above the FR response requirement across conditions.

KW - Biological Psychology (Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, Physiological Psychology)

KW - Psychological Methodology, Design and Analysis

UR - https://nzaba.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/nzaba-2014-programme-complete.pdf

M3 - Abstract

SP - 21

EP - 21

T2 - NZABA 2014 Conference: 11th Annual Conference of the New Zealand Association for Behaviour Analysis

Y2 - 29 August 2014 through 31 August 2014

ER -