UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Johnson, Matthew W.
Dept./Program:
Psychology
Year:
2004
Degree:
Ph. D.
Abstract:
Relative reinforcing efficacy refers to the behavior strengthening or maintaining property of a drug relative to others. Traditional measures of relative reinforcing efficacy - progressive-ratio breakpoint, peak response rate, and preference in concurrent schedules - have led to discordant results across and within studies. An alternative theoretical framework relating different relative reinforcing efficacy measures to behavioral economic demand curves may explain these discrepancies. Previous studies have demonstrated congruence between: 1) breakpoint and the behavioral economic measure Pmax, 2) peak, response rate and the demand curve measure Omax, and 3) preference under concurrent schedules and relative positions of demand curves under single schedules. The current study sought to determine if the congruence between traditional measures of relative reinforcing efficacy and behavioral economic demand curve measures for cigarettes and money is sufficiently robust to persist when demand for money is altered.
Cigarette smokers pulled plungers for cigarettes and two magnitudes of money on a progressive-ratio schedules that increased response requirement across sessions, both in single schedule sessions and concurrent schedule sessions for cigarettes and money. Results demonstrated that demand curve measures Pmax and Omax significantly and positively correlated with traditional measures breakpoint and peak response rate, respectively. Relative locations of demand curves for money and cigarettes at each FR requirement under single schedules predicted preference in concurrent schedules in the vast majority of cases. Although measures of relative reinforcing efficacy for money changed with money magnitude, the congruence between traditional and behavioral economic measures remained intact.
The correspondence between aspects of demand curves and traditional measures of relative reinforcing efficacy is robust and supports the alternative theoretical framework suggesting that demand curves replace measures of relative reinforcing efficacy. Demand curve analysis provides a coherent framework that explains why concordance between traditional measures is expected under some experimental conditions but not others.
Cigarette smokers pulled plungers for cigarettes and two magnitudes of money on a progressive-ratio schedules that increased response requirement across sessions, both in single schedule sessions and concurrent schedule sessions for cigarettes and money. Results demonstrated that demand curve measures Pmax and Omax significantly and positively correlated with traditional measures breakpoint and peak response rate, respectively. Relative locations of demand curves for money and cigarettes at each FR requirement under single schedules predicted preference in concurrent schedules in the vast majority of cases. Although measures of relative reinforcing efficacy for money changed with money magnitude, the congruence between traditional and behavioral economic measures remained intact.
The correspondence between aspects of demand curves and traditional measures of relative reinforcing efficacy is robust and supports the alternative theoretical framework suggesting that demand curves replace measures of relative reinforcing efficacy. Demand curve analysis provides a coherent framework that explains why concordance between traditional measures is expected under some experimental conditions but not others.