Day 4: FR2

9/22/12 
(notes taken at time of session)

Goal:
Start a non-continuous FR schedule after shaping + FR1.

Procedure:
Begin stretching the ratio in Mitzy's training by moving onto an FR2, observing progress made since shaping, development of a post-ratio pause, etc...

Results + Discussion:
For approximately the first half of the session, Mitzy demonstrated a chain of behaviors between bar presses--she would press the bar quickly, check the magazine, and on her second press she would hold the bar for several seconds before releasing and obtaining her reward. Dr. Trench had previously told the class that it was okay if the rats checked the magazine in between presses, so this behavior did not seem out of the ordinary or worrisome. However, I was somewhat concerned that Mitzy's response of putting more "effort" or force into her second bar press (either holding down the bar or biting it) would become reinforced and would thereby become an accidentally-shaped behavior.
Mitzy continued to check the bar between presses, but demonstrated a fairly consistent rate of response. She did not appear to be overly distracted for the majority of the training session, but would lose focus for ~30 seconds every few minutes or so (as seen in FR1 training). However, she began to jump around and rear up in various places in the box ~18 minutes in, and seemed to lose motivation at this point. I stopped the session at 25 minutes.

Mitzy pressed the bar 226 times and was reinforced 113 times. Her weight after training was 209.6 grams.

This video was taken approximately 17 minutes into the session, and demonstrates some of the distracted behavior mentioned above. Note the quick peek into the hopper between presses.