Publication Date

2018

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Wallace, Douglas G.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Psychology

LCSH

Neurosciences; Behaviorism (Psychology)

Abstract

Time perception is one of the most influential cognitive capacities shared across animal species. Interval timing, occurring in the range of seconds to minutes, dictates actions to events experienced in the environment. Operant conditioning techniques have traditionally been used to assess interval timing which relies heavily on extensive training. There may be alternative techniques to investigate processing of temporal information, including exploring the organization of animal's repertoire of spontaneously occurring behaviors. String-pulling behavior in rats may be an alternative way to provide a novel approach to investigate time perception in rodents. The current set of studies evaluates the effects of manipulating temporal and motivational factors on the organization of string-pulling behavior. The first study revealed that short and long strings elicited different behavioral responses during string-pulling behavior. The second study demonstrated that high and low reinforcement rates differentially influenced the organization of string-pulling behavior. The third study provided evidence that string odor/length pairing elicited an odor discrimination. The results of this work provide a basis for string-pulling behavior as a novel behavioral assessment of interval timing.

Comments

Advisors: Douglas Wallace.||Committee members: Angela Grippo; Leslie Matuszewich.||Includes illustrations.||Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

84 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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