A researcher wants to train a mouse to run on an exercise wheel. The LEAST effective way to train this new behavior would involve:

Question

A researcher wants to train a mouse to run on an exercise wheel.  The LEAST effective way to train this new behavior would involve:

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11ecba2d_0d46_7b04_a3bf_0d145edaa1c3_MD0008_00 In operant conditioning, reinforcement is used to encourage certain behaviors, and punishment is used to discourage unwanted behaviors. Reinforcement (eg, rewarding desirable behavior with food) tends to be more effective than punishment. Furthermore, providing a reward after every single desired behavior, known as continuous reinforcement, is the best way to train animals to perform a new behavior. In operant conditioning, partial reinforcement schedules provide reinforcement after a certain number of behaviors (ratio) or amount of time (interval). The schedules are either fixed (consistent) or variable (inconsistent). Partial reinforcement schedules are best used to maintain behaviors that have already been learned through continuous reinforcement. Rewarding the mouse after some amount of time has passed is a fixed (ie, consistent) interval (ie, time-based) reinforcement schedule. A fixed interval reinforcement schedule is not an optimal way to train an animal to perform a new behavior because it is more difficult for the animal to associate the desired behavior with the reward. (Choice A) When first training an animal to perform a new behavior, it is often necessary to reward successive approximations of the desired behavior, known as shaping. Rewarding the mouse for behaviors that increasingly resemble the desired response (eg, touching the wheel, climbing on it, running on it) would be an appropriate strategy during training. (Choice C) During the training phase, the best way to increase the desirability of the food reward is to deprive the mouse of food for a certain period before training. This greatly increases the motivational state of the animal, making it more likely to respond to a food reward during training. (Choice D) Continuous reinforcement (eg, rewarding the mouse each time it runs on the exercise wheel) is the best way to condition new behavior. Educational objective: A continuous reinforcement schedule, which provides a reward after every desired behavior, is most effective for training an animal to perform a new behavior. Shaping (ie, rewarding successive approximations of the desired behavior) is often needed initially. Depriving the animal of the reward (eg, food) prior to training heightens its motivation, making training easier.

A Researcher Wants to Train a Mouse to Run on an Exercise