Laboratory evaluations of a common behavioral treatment

描述(由申请人提供)：建议的项目代表一个独特的 通常进行研究的研究人员之间的合作努力 发育障碍的行为治疗，以及共同负责人 具有操作实验室研究的既定记录的调查员。这个 目标是评估行为治疗(独立于反应的强化 时间表)使用动物模型和标准的操作实验室程序。 不依赖反应的治疗方案最近已被用于治疗重症 行为障碍，如自我伤害和攻击行为。总体而言, 独立于响应的计划是有效的，因为它们打破了应急 一种行为和某种强化后果之间的关系。然而，与所有人一样， 行为治疗，不依赖于反应的计划并不总是有效的。 一些可能导致治疗有效或无效的因素将是 在这些研究中进行了评估。最初将加强对大鼠的杠杆按压 在依赖于响应的时间表上(即响应将产生获得食物的机会 增强剂；这模拟了“前处理”条件)。接下来，独立于响应 将引入时间表(即，响应不会影响 增强剂输送；这是一种类似于“治疗”的方法)。第一个具体目标是 评估独立于响应的时间表作为以下功能的效果 与基准增强剂比率相似或不同。第二个具体问题 目的是评估单个独立于响应的时间表(即，一个 治疗)受其之前依赖于反应的基线的影响。 在某种意义上，基线和处理方法要么相似，要么不同 增强剂将以不同的方式或按固定的时间表交付。在关系中 对于这两个具体目标，假设治疗将会更多 当它们与基线相对不同时有效(在以下方面 增强剂等级或增强剂演示格式)。的长期目标是 这些项目是为了发起一项持续的合作努力， 与行为治疗相关的应用研究。此外，这些研究 可以直接导致更好地应用非应答治疗 日程表。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed project represents a unique collaborative effort between a researcher who ordinarily conducts research on behavioral treatments in developmental disabilities, and the co-principal investigator who has an established record of operant laboratory research. The goal is to evaluate a behavioral treatment (response-independent reinforcement schedules) using animal models and standard operant laboratory procedures. Response-independent schedules have been used recently as treatment for severe behavior disorders such as self-injury and aggression. In general, response-independent schedules are effective because they break the contingency between a behavior and some reinforcing consequence. However, as with all behavioral treatments, response-independent schedules are not always effective. Some possible factors leading to treatment efficacy or inefficacy will be evaluated in these studies. Lever pressing in rats will be initially reinforced on a response-dependent schedule (i.e., responding will produce access to food reinforcers; this mimics "pretreatment" conditions). Next, response-independent schedules will be introduced (i.e., responding will have no effect on reinforcer delivery; this mimics "treatment"). The first specific aim is to evaluate the effects of response-independent schedules as a function of similarity or dissimilarity to baseline reinforcer rates. The second specific aim is to evaluate whether a single response-independent schedule (i.e., one treatment) is influenced by the response-dependent baseline that precedes it. The baselines and treatments will either be similar or dissimilar in the sense that reinforcers will be delivered variably or on a set schedule. In relation to both specific aims, it is hypothesized that treatments will be more effective when they are relatively distinct from baseline (either in terms of reinforcer rate or reinforcer presentation format). The long-term objective of these projects is to initiate an ongoing collaborative effort of basic and applied research related to behavioral treatments. In addition, the studies could lead directly to better application of response-independent treatment schedules.