Dr. Michael Perone’s Laboratory
Sensitivity of Rats and Pigeons to Environmental Contingencies: This research involves the study of pigeons and rats as they behave in operant test chambers in which overt behavior is measured through physical computing technology (including the touch panel like the one pictured to the right). The work addresses fundamental issues in the psychology of learning in situations in which behavior produces reinforcing consequences (food or sweetened water). Specific topics include: (a) the influence of shifts between behavioral tasks that involve relatively favorable circumstances (e.g., large reinforcers, frequent reinforcers, low-effort work requirements) versus
relatively unfavorable circumstances (small reinforcers, infrequent reinforcers, high-effort work requirements); (b) the influence of stimuli that provide information about the potential consequences of behavior; (c) the degree to which animals will seek or avoid informative stimuli; (d) the ability of animals to detect physical changes in environmental stimuli; and (e) the circumstances that influence the “hedonic value” of the opportunity to earn (or, in some cases, receive freely) food or sweetened water.
To carry out this work, REU participants will assist with ongoing research to learn about relevant theoretical issues and how behavioral data are obtained and analyzed statistically and graphically, and to gain practical skills involved in conducting research with animals. During their REU experience, the participants will develop a research question and answer it by designing and conducting an experimental manipulation and analyzing the results. Because this laboratory uses physical computing technology, REU participants will also learn to create and program computing devices that control the behavioral experiments.
