Relevance of this experiment: Relapse is a widely known study used for drug rehabilitation programmes. The principle of relapse is when a previously extinct behaviour reoccurs. Previous studies have looked at with non-humans and humans why people have gone or relapsed back to their addiction after they get treatment even after it is blocked or is on extinction. There are three types of relapses, which include renewal, reinstatement and resurgence. For this study purpose, we are focusing on resurgence. In the resurgence model of relapse, extinguishing a recently reinforced response, results in the reoccurrence of an extinguished response that had been reinforced previously (Christopher and Timothy, 2010). Resurgence effects …show more content…
Previous studies have looked at similar studies with non-human and some human subjects. One of the first studies to undergo experiments related to these subjects was (Lietenberg et.al 1970) studies. This studied illustrated extinction with alternative behaviour put in place and resurgence. The study used reinforced lever pressing of rats with three phases testing the relapse behaviour. “The first phase had involved a VI30s Schedule of food delivery in Phase 1. In Phase 2, pressing the original lever was no longer reinforced, and pressing an alternative lever was reinforced on a fixed-ratio (FR) 10 schedule. In Phase 3, pressing the alternative lever was also placed on extinction, and responding on the original lever then increased”( Timothy et.al …show more content…
There were four groups of pigeon (three in each) which were scheduled for three experimental chambers for over five days a week. The 4 groups of pigeons were scheduled for 3 experimental chambers and would last over 5 days a week; this was done by each group running for one session every day. There are four conditions in this experiment, where each condition will last for 10 sessions. The session durations lasts for a maximum of 40 mins or 60 reinforces depending on which ever happens first.
The experiment had four conditions. In condition one, pigeons will be trained to respond to a key (Key 1) using a single variable interval (VI) 30 s schedule. In the condition 2, Key 1 will be placed on EXT and the pigeons will be trained to respond to a new key (Key 2) using a VI 30s schedule. In condition 3, both Key 1 and Key 2 will be placed on EXT and subjects will be trained to respond to a third key (Key 3) using a VI 30 schedule. In the fourth and final condition, all three keys will be placed on EXT, thus we want to know which key or session the pigeon will turn its behaviour to and where the resurgence effect